In a heartfelt speech delivered to his hometown of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV addressed America by giving a message on the Trinity, the heart of service and the call to be the light of the world.
Leo began by reflecting on the mystery of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—as a divine model of perfect love and unity. “Three persons in one God,” he said, “living united in the depth of love in community.” This divine communion, he emphasized, serves as the blueprint for human relationships and the church’s call to live in unity, friendship and faith.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Acknowledging the pain and isolation many experienced during the pandemic, he reminded audiences that despite life’s difficult circumstances, God’s presence is real and deeply personal. “God is reaching out to you,” he said. “Perhaps through Scripture, a friend or a grandparent of faith—He is inviting you to know His Son, Jesus Christ.”
This personal encounter with God, he explained, begins in the heart. It’s there, in the silent longing for love and meaning, that the journey of faith often begins. And from that place, he invited young people to pursue lives of purpose, service and community. “When we serve others,” he said, “we find true meaning in our lives.”
To order James Lasher’s new book, The Revelation of Jesus, visit Amazon.com.
Drawing attention to the mental health challenges facing many today, Leo offered the church as a place of refuge and healing. “The love of God is truly healing,” he declared. “Coming together as brothers and sisters in community can give us the strength we need and the hope our hearts long for.”
As the message unfolded, a central theme emerged: hope. The young were described as the “promise of hope” in a world desperately in need of light. He urged them to look beyond self-interest, to come together in a common mission of peace, harmony and faith. “If we want the world to be a better place,” he said, quoting St. Augustine, “we must begin with our own hearts.”
Rather than suppressing the inner restlessness we often feel, he encouraged the audience to embrace it. That restlessness, he noted, can be a sign of God’s invitation—an open door to transformation, calling us to live not just for ourselves, but as lights for others.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
In closing, he issued a stirring call: “Hope does not disappoint,” citing the Apostle Paul’s words to the Romans. “Christ, who is our hope, calls us together to be the living example of His light in the world.”
Against the backdrop of uncertainty and spiritual longing, his words offered a compelling vision: a call to unity through love, healing through faith, and purpose through service. This moment marked not just the beginning of a papal relationship with America, but the stirring of a movement—a renewed invitation for all to become living lights of hope in a world desperate for peace.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
