Pope to religious: Be a reflection of God’s love in the world

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

In a speech to two religious congregations, Pope Leo XIV encouraged them to continue their missions in difficult areas of the world and amongst the poorest, urging them to foster a family spirit within their communities.

“For consecrated men and women, as well as for truly committed Christian laypeople,” this family spirit “arises first and foremost from their encounter with God, from the Eucharist, from prayer, from adoration, from listening to the word and from the celebration of the sacraments,” the Pope said, in an address to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles on Saturday, February 21.

“From there, from the altar and the tabernacle,” he continued, “this spirit grows in our hearts, filling them with those feelings of communion and affection, of solicitude and patient closeness, which must always distinguish us and which makes us a reflection of God’s love in the world.”

The Pope met with the two groups at the Vatican in light of the 200th anniversary of the Papal approval of the Rules and Constitutions of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles.

The Pope highlighted that although the history of the two congregations are different, they have several things in common including the period of their foundation, the fact that they both originated in France and “above all the missionary vocation.”

A preferential openness to the least among us

Addressing firstly the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Pope emphasized how the founder of the congregation, French bishop St. Eugène de Mazenod, decided to focus on evangelizing those most in need “at a time when Europe was shaken by complex and dramatic events that heightened the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel.”

“He powerfully spoke and acted in defense of the dignity of the poor, workers and peasants who were exploited as a mere source of labor with their deepest human needs neglected,” the Pope continued.

He added that St. Eugène de Mazenod also sent religious to Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia, which resulted in an “impressive flowering of missionary vocations.”

Even today, with more than 3,000 religious spread across 70 countries, “you continue to carry out your ministry with the same preferential openness to the least among us, enriched by the precious gift of an extended charismatic family and a growing appreciation of individual cultures,” the Pope underlined.

“You welcome this vitality as a gift and as a sign that prompt you to preserve and renew the spirit of your origins.”

Continue your mission in difficult places, be witnesses of peace

Turning then to the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles - which count over 600 sisters spread across 21 countries - the Pope recalled how the founder, French Fr. Augustine Planque, chose the words of St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, “With Mary, the Mother of Jesus,” as the motto of the congregation.

With this verse recalling the Blessed Virgin Mary’s presence among the Apostles, in the Upper Room and in the first Christian community, “he founded your Congregation to ensure the indispensable presence of women in the work of the Society of African Missions,” the Pope explained.

He underlined how many women from France and other countries responded to this invitation to be with and like Mary and bear witness to Christ. “For many of them, that “yes” cost them their lives, given the harshness of missionary work, exposure to disease, and, in recent times, martyrdom,” the Pope said.

“Even now, you are present in difficult situations, where you offer your service with faith and respect for all," he noted, while encouraging them "to continue this mission, wherever you serve, becoming ever more authentic witnesses of fraternity and of peace.”