Pope Leo XIV: God's kingdom grows through humility, patience, and hidden acts of love

Reflecting on Jesus' parables of the wheat and weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast in the dough, Pope Leo XIV on July 19 urged Catholics to embrace God's quiet way of transforming the world, saying the Kingdom of God grows through humility, patience, and hidden acts of love rather than force or worldly success.

Speaking before pilgrims gathered in Liberty Square in Castel Gandolfo for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope said the Gospel images reveal "the coming of the Kingdom of God in history, its action in human lives, and the way it grows, expands and transforms the world from within."

"God favors smallness," Pope Leo said, calling it "a sign of his discreet love, by which he leaves us free to accept or reject him."

The Holy Father contrasted God's way of working with human expectations of dramatic interventions.

"We sometimes expect God to do something spectacular; we want him to intervene from on high, immediately uprooting the weeds of evil," he said. "We imagine a strong and powerful God, and, unfortunately, we also model our way of being Christians and way of being the Church on this image."

Instead, he said, Christians are called to recognize God's work even amid suffering and evil, trusting that grace continues to bear fruit in ordinary circumstances.

"The Kingdom of God spreads even amidst the weeds," Pope Leo said, encouraging the faithful to "discern the good that sprouts despite the darkness of evil," while avoiding "rash judgments."

The Pope also invited Catholics not to lose hope when God appears absent.

"It grows invisibly like yeast in flour, and so we are freed from discouragement and invited to have faith even when it seems that God is absent," he said. "In fact, he is always with us, and his love is always ready to help us."

Drawing on a reflection by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Leo said Christians should embrace "the logic of the seed," which "is not that of success and greatness, but that of making ourselves small and serving others."

"In this way," he said, "we will become like small seeds of the Gospel that sprout, and leavens of love that transform the dough of the world."

The Pope concluded the meditation by asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to help believers receive God's word with humility and perseverance.

Prayer for peace

Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo renewed his appeal for peace, saying he continues to follow "with concern" conflicts around the world.

"Let us not forget those who are suffering and dying because of these conflicts, and let us add our constant prayers to the generous efforts for peace," he said.

The Holy Father also greeted pilgrims and Catholic groups from around the world, including Mother Elvira's Cenacolo Community, members of the Focolare Movement, Regnum Christi participants attending an international formators course, pilgrims from Australia, Mexico, Jerusalem, Poland, and Italy, as well as families and children served by the Sisters of Charity of the Assumption.

Pope Leo, who is spending several days of rest in Castel Gandolfo, thanked local residents for their welcome and wished all those gathered "a peaceful Sunday."