The newly minted Pope Leo XIV used his first homily Friday to warn against reducing Jesus to nothing more than “a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”
“There are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman,” Leo said from the Sistine Chapel, where he led his first mass since becoming pontiff. “This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.”
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Leo, 69, was seemingly suggesting there are people who will claim to believe in Jesus but never truly trust faithfully in Him as their savior, seeing the Son of God as merely a wise teacher and influencer.
“[P]recisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed,” he said. “A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
He continued, “I know I can rely on each and everyone of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel,” even saying, “Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.”
Leo, whose given name is Robert Prevost, is the first American-born pope. As such, he delivered part of his Friday homily in English.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV began his first homily with words in English during Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the College of Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/BgiwQS8U8f
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 9, 2025
“I want to repeat the words from the Responsorial Psalm: ‘I will sing a new song to the Lord, because He has done marvels,’ and indeed, not just with me but with all of us,” he said. “My brother Cardinals, as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to reflect on the marvels the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the Ministry of Peter.”
The pope added, “You have called me to carry that cross, and to carry out that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me, as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the Good News, to announce the Gospel.”
Learn more about the new pope’s history and beliefs in this CBN News report.
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