Pope urges married couples to be ‘examples of integrity’

On June 1, Pope Leo XIV preached the homily at a Mass in St Peter’s Square concluding the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly.

“Today’s world needs the marriage covenant in order to know and accept God’s love and to defeat, thanks to its unifying and reconciling power, the forces that break down relationships and societies,” he said in his homily.

In the family, the Pope said, faith “is shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts. In this way, families become privileged places in which to encounter Jesus, who loves us and desires our good, always”.

Speaking to all married couples, the Pope said that “marriage is not an ideal but the measure of true love between a man and a woman: a love that is total, faithful and fruitful”, and enables them, “in the image of God, to bestow the gift of life”.

“I encourage you, then, to be examples of integrity to your children, acting as you want them to act, educating them in freedom through obedience, always seeing the good in them and finding ways to nurture it,” he told married couples.

“And you, dear children, show gratitude to your parents. To say ‘thank you’ each day for the gift of life, and for all that comes with it, is the first way to honour your father and your mother,” Pope Leo said.

Speaking to grandparents and elderly people, he asked that they “watch over your loved ones with wisdom and compassion, and with the humility and patience that come with age”.

No one chose to be born, Pope Leo added, but someone was there to offer care. “All of us are alive today thanks to a relationship, a free and freeing relationship of human kindness and mutual care.”

However, “that human kindness is sometimes betrayed. As, for example, whenever freedom is invoked not to give life, but to take it away, not to help, but to hurt”, he said.

Nonetheless, the Pope said, “even in the face of the evil that opposes and takes life, Jesus continues to pray to the Father for us. His prayer acts as a balm for our wounds; it speaks to us of forgiveness and reconciliation”.

More than 70,000 people from 131 countries gathered in St Peter’s Square on June 1 after three days of jubilee events in Rome.

FULL STORY

Pope: A family’s love grounded in Christ is sign of peace (By Carol Glatz/CNS)

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Full text of homily of Pope Leo XIV on jubilee for families (CNA)