Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholic families to make love, faith and mutual care the foundation of family life, saying strong families are essential for the future of society.
The Pope's message was delivered by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during Mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on 14 October. Tagle, recently appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the celebration and read the homily prepared by the Pope, who was recovering in hospital following surgery to remove a nodule from his right lung.
The Mass marked the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, an apostolic exhortation issued by Pope Francis in 2016 that focuses on love within families and the Church's pastoral support for family life. The celebration concluded a gathering of 187 delegates from around the world who had met to reflect on family ministry, marriage and the challenges facing young people and parents.
In his homily, Pope Leo recalled the message at the heart of Amoris Laetitia: the joy experienced by families is also a source of joy for the Church. He encouraged Catholics to put the document's teachings into practice and build relationships shaped by love, generosity and respect.
Drawing on St Paul's teaching about love, the Pope explained that genuine love allows each person to grow while learning to give themselves to others. He said Christians are called to reflect God's faithful love, which continues to seek people out and renew their relationship with him.
The Pope described family life as the first place where people learn how to love. Although family relationships can involve difficulties, mistakes and disappointment, everyday experiences within the home help children and adults develop affection, patience and understanding.
He also stressed that preparation for marriage should begin long before couples attend courses offered by parishes. Young people need guidance about love and relationships throughout their upbringing, helping them develop the values needed for lasting marriages and family life.
Pope Leo praised families who faithfully fulfil their responsibilities without seeking recognition. He encouraged the Church to support parents as they raise their children, help young couples adjust to married life and ensure older people continue to be respected for their wisdom and experience.
The homily also highlighted the importance of protecting human life from conception until natural death. The Pope described the family as a guardian of these values and a source of hope for society, adding that the world has no future without strong families willing to welcome children and support their development.
He further encouraged Catholics to build a Church that reflects a family, where people care for one another and no generation is overlooked. Shared prayer and faith, he indicated, can strengthen family relationships and help people face difficulties together.
During the celebration, Cardinal Tagle also conveyed a message from Pope Leo concerning the Chaldean Catholic Church. On the Pope's behalf, he announced the granting of ecclesiastical communion to Patriarch Polis III Nona of Baghdad, who attended the Mass.
Tagle explained that communion between the patriarch and the Pope was more than a formal arrangement. It represented a living expression of unity within the Catholic Church, rooted in the Eucharist and a shared faith in Christ.
He also conveyed the Catholic Church's prayers and support for Christians entrusted to the patriarch's pastoral care, noting that many had endured serious hardships while remaining firm in their faith.
The celebration brought together two central themes of Catholic life: strengthening families through love and making the unity of the Church visible through shared faith, prayer and communion.
Based on reporting by Asia News.
