Pope Leo XIV encouraged people to express gratitude this Thanksgiving. The Pope highlighted the unifying nature of Thanksgiving, extending its significance beyond religious boundaries. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the gifts of life, faith, and unity. Pope Leo XIV addressed concerns about violence in Lebanon in anticipation of his upcoming trip.
18 days ago
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, addressed reporters on November 25, 2025, outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, wishing Americans a happy Thanksgiving.1 2 He described the holiday as a "beautiful feast" that unites people of all faiths, including those without faith, encouraging everyone to express gratitude.3 5 The pope urged individuals to "say thank you to someone" and recognize gifts such as life, faith, and unity, promoting peace and harmony.6
When asked what he personally was thankful for, Leo replied, "Many things I’m thankful for," tying gratitude to broader themes of hope and community.5 His remarks highlighted Thanksgiving's role in fostering dialogue and appreciation across divides, extending the invitation beyond Americans.2 4
Pope Leo XIV's first international trip as pope begins on November 27, 2025, marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea in Turkey and fulfilling Pope Francis's promise to visit Lebanon.1 3 In Turkey, he will meet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for prayer services and discussions on Christian unity, emphasizing the Nicene Creed's role in promoting global peace.6 The visit to Lebanon, a Muslim-majority nation with a significant Christian population amid regional instability, carries a message of hope during the Jubilee Year.2
Reporters raised concerns about recent Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, which killed several people.1 Leo acknowledged the ongoing violence as a persistent worry but affirmed his commitment, stating, "We’re going," and calling for all parties to abandon weapons in favor of dialogue and respect.3 5
On the Ukraine conflict, Pope Leo XIV expressed hope for progress toward a ceasefire amid U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan.1 He noted that "so many are still dying" and invited all involved to halt fighting, while appreciating diplomatic efforts getting "closer" to resolution.6 His comments underscored dialogue as essential, despite various challenges in negotiations.2
For the Middle East, particularly Israel and Lebanon, the pope urged pursuing justice to address root causes of violence, such as injustices.3 He advocated for greater unity and respect among all religions, inviting belligerents to "sit down together at the table" for solutions.4 5 These remarks align with his broader vision of peace through mutual respect and abandonment of arms.1
Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, 2025, Pope Leo XIV called for a "new mentality" rooted in respect for human dignity.1 He emphasized educating young people to view every person as deserving of peace and good will.6 The pope stressed that combating this "scourge" begins with formation that honors inherent dignity, linking it to his themes of unity and gratitude.2 3
Assess Catholic teachings on gratitude as a catalyst for peace
Catholic tradition richly affirms that gratitude, rooted in the recognition of God's gifts, serves as a powerful catalyst for peace, both interior and communal. This assessment draws from scriptural echoes in the Magisterium, the Catechism, and papal teachings, which portray thanksgiving not merely as a pious sentiment but as a transformative attitude that fosters reconciliation, hope, and harmony. By cultivating gratitude, individuals and societies move from entitlement to grace-filled living, countering division and violence with unity and charity. This dynamic is especially evident in the Eucharist, the Church's central act of thanksgiving, which embodies peace as the "tranquility of order" achieved through justice and love.
At its core, Catholic teaching presents gratitude as an essential form of prayer that permeates Christian existence, urging believers to "give thanks in all circumstances" as the will of God in Christ Jesus . Pope Francis, in his catechesis on the prayer of thanksgiving, explains that this attitude arises from the encounter with Jesus, transforming wanderers into dwellers in Christ, where the world appears "infinitely more beautiful." Gratitude counters the devil's delusions of sadness and isolation, sustaining joy even amid sin or threats. It is a recognition of life as a gift—"All of us are born because someone wanted us to have life"—incurring "debts of gratitude" toward God, educators, and friends.
This grateful disposition directly catalyzes inner peace by affirming one's belovedness: as in the story of the ten lepers, only the one who returns to thank Jesus experiences not just healing but the "certainty of being loved," the crux of peace. Pope John Paul II echoes this in a homily, describing a "eucharistic attitude" that brings "peace and serenity in labors," freeing one from egoism and opening to universal charity. Such gratitude aligns the will with God's, quenching neither the Spirit nor the pursuit of harmony. The Catechism reinforces this, noting that every joy and suffering becomes matter for thanksgiving, filling life with Christ's own gratitude. Thus, gratitude purifies the heart, eliminating pride and vindictiveness—roots of conflict—and builds peace from within.
The Eucharist, etymologically "thanksgiving," exemplifies how gratitude propels peace in Catholic doctrine. Pope John Paul II calls it "the culmination of our peace," where reconciliation with God and others occurs through Christ's sacrifice. In it, the prayer "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us" resounds, receiving Christ as our peace, distinct from the world's fleeting version. This sacramental gratitude heals wounded consciences via Penance, turning individuals into peacemakers.
Similarly, at an International Eucharistic Congress, John Paul II highlights how gratitude for baptismal grace deepens union with Christ, offering the Father the "perfect sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving" of the Cross. This act gathers the Church in eternal liturgy, sanctifying humanity and fostering peace beyond mere absence of war . St. Thomas Aquinas, as analyzed in contemporary scholarship, views the Eucharist as "alimentum pacis" (food of peace), uniting participants in charity around God as the common good, achieving internal order (tranquility of the mind) and external concord. Peace, for Aquinas, is "tranquility of order" or "well-ordered agreement," quieting desires and harmonizing self and others—effects amplified by Eucharistic thanksgiving.
In the beatification of Franciscan figures, John Paul II illustrates this through Bl. Diego Oddi, whose alms-begging embodied gratitude as prayer "with thanksgiving," making him an "angel of peace" who cared for the poor without anxiety. Franciscan simplicity teaches that all possessions are God's gifts, directing needs to Him and pointing to Gospel virtues as the "high road to achieving peace".
Extending inward transformation outward, gratitude catalyzes communal peace by inspiring solidarity and dialogue. Pope Francis notes that bearers of gratitude improve the world, transmitting hope amid interconnected challenges. This aligns with the Catechism's vision of peace as requiring "respect for the dignity of persons and peoples" and "assiduous practice of fraternity," effected by charity.
Papal teachings repeatedly link grateful witness to peacemaking. John Paul II thanks consecrated persons for their prayer "knocking night and day at the heart of the God of peace," cooperating in Christ's victory over hatred, and for building peace through brotherhood like "yeast" in humanity. To bishops, he expresses gratitude for implanting Christ's peace in racially divided communities, insisting on non-violence, reconciliation, and justice—freedoms for which Christ set us free. In Assisi, gratitude to God for creation's beauty and human life undergirds peace, as God instills an "instinctive tendency" toward harmony stronger than violence. Believers, by praising these gifts, build bridges of justice and reconciliation.
Even recent voices from Pope Leo XIV reflect this, though more implicitly: his Thanksgiving greeting emphasizes gratitude for service revealing "truth and harmony" needed by the world, while messages on hope and charity urge defending the vulnerable, mirroring grateful service as hope's witness. Collectively, these sources show gratitude countering conflict's roots—entitlement, injustice—by fostering a "culture of peace" through solidarity . As John Paul II told ambassadors, spiritual values like gratitude ensure material progress serves human destiny, with religions offering "unanimous witness" to dignity for world peace .
While unanimous in praise, Catholic teaching nuances gratitude's role amid suffering. It does not ignore evil but integrates it into thanksgiving, as in the lepers' story or CCC's call to thank in all circumstances . Controversies, like interreligious dialogue's limits, are addressed by emphasizing respect for freedom, enabling heart-purification for peace . Where sources vary—e.g., Francis on personal joy versus John Paul II's social emphasis—recent teachings like Leo XIV's on hope build on predecessors, prioritizing charity's praxis.
In conclusion, Catholic doctrine assesses gratitude as an indispensable catalyst for peace, weaving personal serenity, Eucharistic reconciliation, and societal harmony. By thanking God amid life's gifts and trials, believers embody Christ's peace, transmitting hope and inviting all to fraternity. This call remains urgent: in a divided world, let gratitude be our daily Eucharist, building the "net of peace" through solidarity .