Pope’s homily on families and love read at assembly Mass

By CathNews New Zealand

October 16th, 2026

Presidents of bishops’ conferences in Oceania at the meeting in Rome (from left) Bishop Steve Lowe, Bishop Rozario Menezes (Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands), Archbishop Timothy Costelloe (Australia), Archbishop Ryan Jimenez (CEPAC) (CEPAC/Facebook)

In a homily read out at a Mass at the conclusion of the assembly at the Vatican marking the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the family as “an affective . . . spiritual and sacrificial union” and “an icon of God’s love". Source: Vatican News.

The Holy Father’s homily was read by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the new Dean of the College of Cardinals and Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation.

The Filipino Cardinal presided at the liturgy in place of the Pope, who is recovering in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following surgery on October 13 to remove a “small, localised nodule” from his lung.

The October 7-14 meeting was attended by heads of the eastern Churches, presidents of bishops conferences, married couples and experts to reflect on how the Church can better accompany families today.

Christian families and communities, said the Pope in his homily, need to “mature in love”, which must become “the foundation of our families”.

This love, he continued, involves instruction in “the importance of the virtues”, especially chastity, which is “invaluable for the genuine growth of love between persons”.

Pope Leo went on to emphasise the importance of the witness borne by parents and children, the young and the old, through which the truth of the Gospel is spread throughout the world.

The Holy Father highlighted, once again, “the values of openness to life and respect for life from conception to natural death”, saying that “without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth”, the world has no future.

Pope Leo also encouraged families to renew the practice of prayer within the home, and emphasised the importance of attending Sunday Mass together.

The Pope also sent a message for the conclusion of the assembly on the family, in which he thanked those who attended.

“I will read the fruits of your work and discussions, and offer my reflections in due course,” Pope Leo assured the participants.

“In the meantime,” he said, “I encourage you to begin to share with your Episcopal Conferences and Dioceses what you have lived and received, and to continue proclaiming the Gospel with families, drawing on the richness of Amoris Laetitia.”

A statement on the delayed publication of the synthesis report from the assembly was released by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, and Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod on October 12.

“The synthesis report of the meeting will be presented and discussed in the assembly next Wednesday [the final day], as scheduled. However, contrary to what was previously announced, it will not be made public.

“Once the Holy Father has completed his convalescence, we will present to him the results of the assembly, which he is awaiting. We will provide him with all the texts of the interventions and the reports of the 16 groups – those from the first days have already been sent to him – and we will also present to him the synthesis report and the fruits of the discussion during the concluding plenary session. We will then proceed according to his instructions.”

FULL STORY

Pope Leo: Take to heart the riches of ‘Amoris laetitia’ (By Christopher Wells/Vatican News)

Pope Leo: ‘May families actively participate in life of the Church’ (Vatican News)

Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 12: prelates discuss ‘families in complex situations’ (Catholic Culture)

Cardinal Lacroix: We must be present and go out to families (Vatican News)

Church renews commitment to families at conclusion of ‘Amoris laetitia’ meeting – Vatican News (Vatican News)