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Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given Sept. 6, 2026
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV delivered an Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square, expressing sorrow over recent attacks in Ukraine and urging frank dialogue and mutual love.
During his Angelus address on September 6, 2026, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the recent violent attacks in Ukraine, which have caused the deaths of innocent people. The pontiff, speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, emphasized the importance of honest and gradual communication to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth.
The Pope also highlighted the significance of praying together, as Jesus encourages in the Gospel passage. He noted that praying as a community builds unity among Christians and can contribute to peace efforts. 'The efforts undertaken in these days to resume negotiations will bear concrete fruit and open space for diplomacy,' he said, expressing hope for peace amid U.S.-led efforts to end the war.
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:15-20), Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of fraternal correction. He explained that Jesus taught his disciples to ask for and practice the forgiveness of debts, and that the word of God offers fundamental criteria for thought and action. Saint Paul’s powerful image of mutual love was also referenced, with the Pope noting that all the attention, care, and goodness received make individuals freer and more capable of responsibility.
The Pope further elaborated on the two ways for Christian communities to practice mutual love, as suggested in the Gospel. The first is to become capable of fraternal correction, and the second is to love one another. 'Owe no one anything, except to love one another,' he quoted, emphasizing that mutual love does not enslave but rather frees individuals and communities.
By addressing both the immediate concerns of violence in Ukraine and the broader principles of mutual love and dialogue, Pope Leo XIV provided a message of hope and unity for his followers and the world at large.
What's confirmed
- (OSV News) — The following is the full text of Pope Leo XIV ‘s Angelus address given Sept.
What's still developing
- “With a sorrowful heart, I have followed the news of the latest violent attacks that have recently struck several cities and civilian infrastructures in Ukraine, causing the deaths of innocent people,” the pope told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, following the recitation of the Angelus.
- “This is a delicate art, too often forgotten, that calls for frankness and a gradual approach. Speaking honestly with one another — first face to face, then, if necessary, with two or three others, and finally, when required, with the whole community — means facing reality and transforming problems and conflicts into opportunities for growth. Complaining and speaking ill of others are easier, but they accomplish nothing and leave many situations paralyzed,” the pope said.