Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given Sept. 6, 2026
Pope Leo XIV delivered his Angelus address in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 6, 2026, stressing the commandment to love one's neighbor. He urged mutual love as a debt owed to one another, calling for fraternal correction and unity in prayer. He emphasized honesty, forgiveness, and shared desires to strengthen community bonds. After the address he expressed sorrow over recent violent attacks in Ukraine, urging an end to violence and a return to dialogue and peace. He appealed to the faithful to pray for the victims and for peace.
25 days ago
Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 6 Angelus address centered on mutual love as a Christian responsibility, emphasizing forgiveness, honest fraternal correction, agreement in prayer, and reconciliation. After the Angelus, he condemned recent attacks in Ukraine, urged an end to violence, and expressed hope that renewed negotiations would advance diplomacy and peace. 1
Reflecting on the Sunday liturgy, Leo cited St. Paul’s teaching that all commandments are summarized by the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He described love as the one “debt” Christians owe one another—one that does not enslave but instead reflects the care and goodness they have received and enables them to act responsibly. 1
The pope identified fraternal correction as one practical expression of mutual love. He said Christians should address problems honestly and progressively: first in private, then with two or three others if necessary, and finally with the wider community when required. 1
He contrasted this approach with complaining and speaking negatively about others, which he said leave conflicts unresolved. In his presentation, charitable honesty allows problems to become opportunities for growth and offers a form of freedom. 1
Leo also focused on Jesus’ teaching that when two people agree in prayer, their request is brought before God. He said shared desires, suffering, and hopes can help Christians grow in unity and overcome suspicion and isolation. 1
He described grace as enabling believers to live as brothers and sisters who meet, forgive, listen to one another, and seek harmony in the Lord. He invoked Mary as a model of fraternal love, recalling her visit to Elizabeth after the angel’s announcement. 1
After the Angelus, Leo said he was following with sorrow reports of recent violent attacks on several Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructures. He expressed solidarity with civilians who had endured years of anguish and fear and mourned the deaths of innocent people. 1
He renewed his call to end the violence, halt destruction, and open hearts to dialogue and peace. He also said he hoped current efforts to resume negotiations would produce concrete results and create room for diplomacy. 1
The pope concluded the appeal by asking for prayers that concord would prevail in conflicts throughout the world. 1
Leo welcomed Romans and pilgrims from various countries, including the Interdiocesan Seminary Studienhaus Sankt Lambert of Lantershofen in Germany. He also greeted a pilgrimage from the Parish of Sant’Ulderico Vescovo in Musestre, near Treviso, and the diocesan choir of Oppido Mamertina-Palmi, accompanied by its bishop. 1
As ordinary activities resumed after the summer break, he encouraged those present to ask God for light and support, and ended by wishing everyone a happy Sunday. 1*
Pope urges Christian love, unity, and peace amid global conflict
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal connects three inseparable Christian duties: love among believers, unity within the Church, and peace among nations.
Christian love is not limited to friends or fellow Catholics; it extends to every person, including enemies, because all are loved by the one Father. This love rejects revenge and violence and should become concrete service to those wounded by war and injustice.
The Pope presents Christian unity not as an internal ecclesial concern alone, but as a witness essential to the world’s reconciliation. Divided Christians weaken the credibility of the Gospel of peace, while cooperation among them can promote human dignity, justice, forgiveness, and solidarity.
In the face of global conflict, peace is more than the absence of fighting. It is a moral obligation grounded in the unity of the human family. Pope Leo insists that war is never worthy of humanity and that disputes must be addressed through reason, dialogue, justice, and free cooperation rather than violence.
The message therefore calls Christians to more than prayerful concern. They are to become “peacemakers” in their families, communities, churches, and civic life, working actively to overcome division and protect the vulnerable.
The central Catholic conviction is that Christ himself is our peace: Christian unity and international peace both begin with conversion from self-interest, nationalism, resentment, and retaliation toward charity, forgiveness, and the common good.