Pope Leo XIV has returned to public engagements following surgery to remove a portion of his right lung, praying the Angelus with thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday.
The appearance was his first scheduled public event since he was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, offering an opportunity for pilgrims and visitors to welcome the Holy Father back after his hospitalisation.
Thousands of faithful gathered in the square to join the Pope in the weekly Marian devotion, as he reflected on the relationship between faith, civic responsibility and the need for honesty in public and private life.
Pope's return to public engagements
In his address ahead of the Angelus, Pope Leo focused on one of Jesus Christ’s best-known teachings: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The Pope explained that Jesus made the statement in response to a question about paying taxes, which had been designed to trap him.
According to Leo, Jesus’ response was astute because it allowed him to avoid the trap while exposing the hypocrisy of those who sought to test him.
The pontiff used the Gospel passage to emphasise that faith should not be separated from everyday life or the responsibilities people have within society.
“In Jesus, we contemplate a God who is not afraid of history, but comes instead to dwell within it. His kingdom does not abolish human roles and responsibilities,” the Pope said.
He explained that Jesus’ teaching does not call people to abandon their civic duties but encourages them to fulfil their responsibilities while remaining faithful to God’s principles.
Pope Leo further urged Christians to live with integrity, free from selfish ambitions, hypocrisy and unjust motives, while prioritising the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Message on integrity and responsibility
He also drew attention to the conduct of those who approached Jesus with flattering words despite harbouring intentions that were far from sincere.
The Pope warned against such contradictions, stressing the importance of aligning words with actions and ensuring that public expressions of respect or admiration are not used to conceal dishonest motives.
He said the Gospel passage offers an important lesson on the need to remain truthful and courageous, without allowing fear or personal interests to undermine the pursuit of what is right.
Summing up his reflection, Leo said rendering to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God means being truthful, rejecting servile fear and hypocrisy, and remaining free to do good.
Importance of personal responsibility
His message placed particular emphasis on the importance of personal responsibility and moral consistency in navigating the demands of society while remaining committed to Christian values.
The Angelus is a traditional Catholic prayer recited at midday, particularly associated with the Virgin Mary. The Pope normally leads the devotion from the Vatican on Sundays and major feast days, offering a reflection on the day’s Gospel before praying with the faithful.
Sunday’s gathering marked Leo’s return to his scheduled public engagements following his discharge from hospital, as pilgrims joined him in prayer and listened to his message on faith, honesty and responsibility.
