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Pope Leo at the Angelus: True righteousness demands great love

In his Angelus reflections on the Sunday Gospel, Pope Leo explains how the Gospel teaches us that we must love greatly for true righteousness.

Vatican News

In his customary reflections on the Sunday Gospel reading before leading the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Leo explained how "Jesus invites us to enter into the newness of the Kingdom of God." He noted that today's Gospel passage recounts when Jesus, who after proclaiming the Beatitudes, reveals the true meaning of the precepts of the Law of Moses that call us "into a relationship of love with God and with our brothers and sisters." And that is why Jesus says he did not come to abolish the Law, but to bring it to fulfillment.

“The Law is fulfilled precisely by love, which brings its profound meaning and ultimate purpose to completion.”

The Pope emphasized how righteousness is not limited to observing the commandments, but "opens us to love and compels us to love." Jesus then examines some of the precepts of the Law that refer to concrete cases and shows the difference between formal religious righteousness and the righteousness of the Kingdom of God. This, Pope Leo explained, shows us how the Law given to Moses and the prophets is a way to come to know God and His plan for us and history. 

“God himself, in the person of Jesus, has come among us, bringing the Law to fulfillment, making us children of the Father and giving us the grace to enter into a relationship with him as children and as brothers and sisters among ourselves...Jesus teaches us that true righteousness consists in love and that, within every precept of the Law, we must learn to identify a call to love.”

The Pope then recalled the examples Jesus gave showing how minimal righteousness is not enough, "great love is needed", which is possible thanks to God's strength. He prayed that the Virgin Mary may "intercede for us" and "help us to understand better the Kingdom of God and to live out its call for righteousness."

 

 

 

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15 February 2026, 12:25

The Angelus is a special prayer recited by Catholics three times a day, at 6am, noon, and 6pm and is accompanied by the ringing of the Angelus bell. The name comes from the Latin word for Angel and the prayer itself reminds us of how Jesus Christ assumed our human nature through the Mystery of the Incarnation.
The Pope recites the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square every Sunday at midday.
He also gives a brief reflection on the Gospel of the day and often comments on some issue of international concern. The Pope’s words are broadcast all over the world on radio and television and widely shared on social media.
From Easter to Pentecost the Regina Coeli is prayed instead of the Angelus. This prayer commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and, like the Angelus, concludes with the recitation of the Gloria three times.

Latest Angelus / Regina Caeli

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Pray with the Pope

Angelus

Angelus Dómini nuntiávit Mariæ.
Et concépit de Spíritu Sancto.
Ave Maria...

Ecce ancílla Dómini.
Fiat mihi secúndum verbum tuum.
Ave Maria...

Et Verbum caro factum est.
Et habitávit in nobis.
Ave Maria...

Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei génetrix.
Ut digni efficiámur promissiónibus Christi.

Orémus.
Grátiam tuam, quǽsumus, Dómine,
méntibus nostris infunde;
ut qui, Ángelo nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui incarnatiónem cognóvimus, per passiónem eius et crucem, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur. Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Amen.

Gloria Patri... (ter)
Requiem aeternam...

Benedictio Apostolica seu Papalis

Dominus vobiscum.Et cum spiritu tuo.
Sit nomen Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus,
Pa ter, et Fi lius, et Spiritus Sanctus.

Amen.

The Angelus Prayer

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary, etc...

And the Word was made Flesh.
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
Your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His Passion and Cross
we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Glory be, etc… (3 times)
Eternal rest…

Apostolic Blessing

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Now and forever.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Who has made Heaven and Earth.
May Almighty God bless you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.