Pope: Even in our darkest moments, Jesus does not abandon us
Pope Leo XIV reminded pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square that Jesus’ presence calms fear, citing the miracle of walking on water to encourage trust in God. He highlighted the disciples’ profession of faith, linking it to Jesus’ promise that faith can move mountains. The Pope warned against pride after success and despair in difficult times, urging humility and prayer to find peace. He concluded by asking for Mary’s intercession to help believers live trusting surrender to God.
about 2 months ago
Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus on 9 August 2026 reminded the faithful that, even in life’s fiercest storms, Jesus remains present and never abandons us, urging trust, humility and prayer while also addressing current humanitarian crises and encouraging young people to follow the saints. 1 2
The Pope centered his address on the Gospel of Matthew 14:22‑33, where Jesus walks on the sea, calms the storm and saves Peter from sinking. He highlighted Jesus’ words, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid,” as a call to keep one’s eyes on Christ amid turmoil. 1
Leo explained that the disciples’ rescue sparked a spontaneous confession, “Truly you are the Son of God,” linking it to Matthew 21:21 about faith that can move mountains. He stressed that genuine faith arises from recognizing God’s presence in moments of weakness. 1 2
After the Angelus, the Pope greeted several youth groups—pilgrims from Milan, Scouts from Enna, and young people from Pernumia—calling them “signs of hope.” He urged them to draw inspiration from recent saints such as St. Dominic, St. Edith Stein, St. Lawrence and St. Clare, and to become “new saints” in today’s world. 2
Leo expressed solidarity with civilians in Sudan’s el‑Obeid, urging humanitarian corridors and a cease‑fire. He also condemned ongoing violence in Ukraine and Russia, calling for respect of humanitarian law and an end to civilian suffering. 2
The Pope concluded by asking the Virgin Mary, “blessed for her faith,” to help the faithful surrender to God, reinforcing that welcoming Christ into the “boat of our lives” leads to inner peace and resilience. 1*
Jesus never abandons believers, even amid darkest trials
Jesus’ promise is not that believers will never suffer, but that they will never suffer alone. In the midst of fear, loss, persecution, or spiritual darkness, Christ remains faithful.
“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.”
The disciples themselves experienced confusion and abandonment. Jesus warned that they would be scattered and might even leave Him alone. Yet He declared, “I am not alone because the Father is with me,” and immediately added: “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”
This reveals an important Christian distinction: God’s presence is not always felt, but it is always real. Consolation may disappear; prayer may seem dry; circumstances may suggest that God is silent. Nevertheless, the absence of emotional comfort is not the absence of divine love. Saint Alphonsus Liguori warns that, during spiritual desolation, one must not conclude that God has abandoned the soul or abandon prayer itself.
Christ understands this darkness from within. In Gethsemane, He experienced anguish and loneliness; on the Cross, He entered fully into the suffering of humanity. Pope Francis emphasizes that, when we face our own agony, “God is watching,” fighting alongside us, because He is the Father who does not abandon His children. Through the Incarnation, Christ has entered the deepest valley of human suffering, so that no valley is ultimately godless or desolate.
Even Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was not a confession of despair. Pope Benedict XVI explains that Christ was praying Psalm 22: He expressed the full anguish of suffering while remaining united to the Father and trusting that His cry would be answered in the Resurrection.
Therefore, faith does not require pretending that trials are easy. A believer may lament, weep, ask “Why?”, and honestly tell God that he or she feels abandoned. Christian hope means bringing that darkness into relationship with the Father, as Jesus did, and continuing to entrust oneself to Him: “Not my will, but yours be done.”
God’s presence also does not mean that every tragedy will be immediately removed. The Church teaches that the permission of evil remains a mystery, but that God illuminates this mystery through Christ’s death and Resurrection. Faith gives certainty that God can bring good from evil—even when the full meaning will be understood only in eternal life.
The Cross is thus the definitive proof that Christ does not abandon believers. He does not remain distant from suffering; He enters it, bears it, and transforms it from within. His Resurrection assures us that darkness, sin, betrayal, and death do not have the final word. As Pope Leo XIV teaches, even when a painful night remains, “a light has already begun to shine,” because Christ’s faithful love is stronger than hatred and rejection.
In practical terms, remaining with Christ during trials means:
The central truth is simple: your suffering may be dark, but you are not forgotten. God assures His people, “I will never forget you,” and Christ promises, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Jesus never abandons those who turn to Him. He remains present in the trial, sustains them through it, and leads them toward the victory of resurrection.