Pope Leo says God's Word can transform even the hardest hearts

Reflecting on Christ's Parable of the Sower during his Angelus address July 12, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Catholics to trust in the transformative power of God's Word, reminding the faithful that the Lord never stops believing in the potential of every human heart.

Praying the Angelus from Liberty Square at Castel Gandolfo just south of Rome, where he is spending several days of rest, the Pope centered his reflection on the Gospel reading for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt. 13:1-23).

Describing Jesus as the seed continually sown by the Father throughout the world, Pope Leo acknowledged that God's Word is often received by hearts that are distracted, hardened or burdened by life's difficulties. Yet, he said, God never ceases to sow because "the power of his love is stronger than our weakness."

Even hearts that appear resistant to the Gospel can be transformed by God's grace, he said, citing St. John Chrysostom's reflection that what seems unreasonable in agriculture becomes a sign of divine wisdom when it comes to the salvation of souls.

"God's generosity towards us is not naïve but wise," the Pope said. "He sees within us the potential of a good that, at times, we ourselves might fail to recognize."

Because the Lord knows the human heart better than anyone, he continued, God never stops believing in who each person is and who he or she can become through faith.

The Holy Father said that when God's Word is received with humility and openness, it bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — virtues the modern world desperately needs.

He encouraged Catholics to use the slower pace of summer to deepen their spiritual lives by making time for Scripture, silence, and prayer alongside rest and recreation.

"In this way, we shall return to our usual activities renewed in body and spirit," he said, "ready to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and ever more capable of contributing to the growth of the Kingdom of God."

Following the Angelus, Pope Leo turned his attention to ongoing conflicts around the world, lamenting that "the winds of war are blowing once again" across the Middle East, Ukraine, and other regions.

Calling on the faithful not to lose hope, he renewed his appeal for dialogue and diplomacy as the only path capable of achieving "a just and lasting peace" rooted in reconciliation, mutual security, and respect for every person's dignity.

The Pope also marked Sea Sunday by offering prayers for sailors, fishermen and port workers, thanking them for their often unseen service despite long separations from their families and the dangers posed by conflicts at sea.

Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo greeted pilgrims gathered in Castel Gandolfo and offered prayers for the annual Polish pilgrimage accompanying the icon of Jasna Góra, asking that participants become joyful missionary disciples and witnesses to the Gospel.