During a Mass celebrated “for the sanctification of the Argentine people” on the feast of Pope St. Leo the Great, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that carrying out the Christian mission is a “joyful duty” best fulfilled through personal example. Speaking in a nation he described as “rich in the fruits of holiness,” the Pope challenged believers to follow the path set by Argentina’s saints and blesseds.
Focusing particularly on holy figures from and around Córdoba, the Holy Father highlighted the examples of Fr. José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero and Mama Antula. He reminded the congregation that all Christians are called to be simple servants fulfilling their duty, emphasizing that the universal call to holiness is inherently missionary by nature.
Drawing on the teachings of Saint Leo the Great, the Pope underscored the importance of total adherence to Jesus Christ and Christian witness. He noted that Argentina’s saints and blesseds reflect a “polyphonic expression” of holiness, characterized by a shared passion for the Gospel and a commitment to building a nation rooted in fraternity and solidarity.
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo invited the faithful to embrace their calling by taking inspiration from those who have already completed their earthly missions. He urged them to open their hearts, pursue holiness, and go forth to evangelize under the gaze of the cross.