At the Sunday Angelus, the Pope recalled St. Dominic and other saints celebrated in August, presenting their witness as a source of hope in a world wounded by war.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo encouraged young people to discover the lives of the saints celebrated during August and to allow their witness to shape their own response to the Gospel.
Speaking after the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square on August 9, the Pope drew attention to four saints commemorated on consecutive days: St. Dominic, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. Lawrence and St. Clare of Assisi.
He recalled St. Dominic as the founder of the Order of Preachers. He then pointed to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross—Edith Stein—the Carmelite philosopher and martyr killed at Auschwitz, who is honored as a co-patroness of Europe. The Pope also mentioned St. Lawrence, the Roman deacon and martyr, and St. Clare, who left behind a life of comfort to follow Christ in poverty and humility alongside St. Francis.
“Dear young people, allow yourselves to be inspired by these exemplary witnesses to the Gospel!” the Pope said.
His invitation was addressed especially to the many youth groups gathered in St. Peter’s Square, including young pilgrims who had walked the Via Francigena from Siena to Rome, Scouts who had camped in the Roman Hills and young people from the Diocese of Padua.
Pope Leo described the presence of young people who dedicate part of their summer to formation and friendship as a sign of hope. He connected their witness with the young Franciscans whom he had met several days earlier in Assisi.
Christ brings peace in the storm
In his reflection before the Angelus, Pope Leo considered the Gospel account of Christ walking on the water toward his disciples.
After participating in the multiplication of the loaves and fish, the disciples found themselves struggling against the wind and waves. Their earlier success gave way to helplessness and fear. Only when Christ entered the boat did the storm subside and the disciples recognize him as the Son of God.
The Pope explained that this experience teaches Christians neither to become presumptuous in moments of success nor to despair when difficulties appear overwhelming. Human weakness, he said, can become the place where God’s presence is recognized.
Whatever the circumstances, Christ does not abandon his disciples. When he is welcomed into the “boat” of one’s life through prayer, the sacraments and attentive listening to the Word of God, believers find the peace, light and strength needed to continue their journey.
The saints recalled by Pope Leo offer striking examples of this confidence in Christ. St. Dominic devoted himself to preaching the truth of the Gospel; St. Teresa Benedicta remained faithful amid persecution; St. Lawrence served the Church to the point of martyrdom; and St. Clare embraced evangelical poverty in order to follow Christ more closely.
Their lives show how faith in Christ can overcome fear and become a source of hope for others, even amid violence, suffering and uncertainty.
Appeals for Sudan, Ukraine and Russia
After invoking the witness of the saints, Pope Leo turned to places where peace remains urgently needed.
The Pope expressed particular concern for Sudan and the increasingly grave situation in the city of el-Obeid. He called upon those in authority to guarantee humanitarian corridors for civilians and urged the international community to support efforts toward an immediate ceasefire.
He also prayed that God would sustain those who are suffering, change the hearts of those responsible for violence and grant the Sudanese people the peace for which they have long waited.
Turning to the continuing war between Ukraine and Russia, Pope Leo lamented the growing number of civilians—including children—being killed or injured. He renewed his appeal for international humanitarian law to be respected and for attacks against civilian targets to cease.
“War only begets more war and causes immense suffering,” he warned.
The Pope called for an end to the cycle of violence and urged both sides to make room for diplomacy and dialogue as the path toward peace.
Against this background of conflict, the August saints stand as witnesses that Christian hope is neither passive nor removed from the suffering of the world. Their lives reveal what becomes possible when men and women welcome Christ into the storms of history and allow the Gospel to direct their lives.
