Pope Leo calls for openness to gift of evangelization in July 6 Angelus address 

In his July 6 Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the need for a personal relationship with God in order to cultivate the gift of evangelization, drawing on a verse from the Gospel reading, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2).

“Today’s Gospel reminds us of the importance of the mission to which we are all called, each according to our own vocation and in the particular situations in which the Lord has placed us,” he said.

Pope Leo reflected on the significance of the 72 disciples Jesus sent out to spread the Gospel, saying that the number shows that “the hope of the Gospel is meant for all peoples.”

He contemplated the meaning of the harvest, explaining that God has sowed a desire for Himself, eternal life, and truth in people’s hearts. However, he lamented that not many discern the call to “go out into the field sown by the Lord.”

“The Lord wishes to do something great in our lives and in the history of humanity, yet there are few who perceive this, pause to receive the gift and then proclaim and share it with others,” the pope said. 

He added that the Church and the world need evangelists who are on fire for their faith, rather than those who behave “as if the faith were merely an external label.” 

“We need laborers who are eager to work in the mission field, loving disciples who bear witness to the Kingdom of God in all places,” he said.

Pope Leo said that the best way to cultivate the gifts of evangelization and mission is to begin with personal prayer and dialogue with the Lord, asking Our Lady for assistance in being sent out “into the field of the world to bear witness to his Kingdom.”

Following the Angelus, the pope additionally greeted pilgrims from around the world, extending a special message to condole families who lost loved ones during the July 4 flooding of the Guadalupe River in central Texas. He also called for peace in the world, asking for the faithful to pray for the Lord to inspire leaders to turn to dialogue rather than violence.

Pope Leo concluded by announcing that he would be traveling to the Italian city of Castel Gandolfo that afternoon, taking up a longstanding papal tradition of spending part of the summer resting there. Though previous popes spent summer vacations in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Francis had decided not to follow the practice during his papacy. 

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