Vatican City, Jun 8, 2025 / 08:42 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday with international pilgrims belonging to new Church movements, associations, and communities celebrating this year’s Jubilee Year of Hope in Rome.
Emphasizing the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian, the Holy Father noted that it is the third person of the Blessed Trinity who anoints, heals, and strengthens followers of Jesus to “open borders” in hearts, in relationships with others, and between nations.
“Let us invoke the Spirit of love and peace, that he may open borders, break down walls, dispel hatred and help us to live as children of our one Father who is in heaven,” the pope said on a hot Sunday morning.
“Brothers and sisters, Pentecost renews the Church and the world!” he said. “May the strong wind of the Spirit come upon us and within us, open the borders of our hearts, grant us the grace of encounter with God, enlarge the horizons of our love and sustain our efforts to build a world in which peace reigns.”
Approximately 70,000 people from more than 100 countries registered to take part in this year’s special Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations, and New Communities taking place over the June 7–8 weekend in Rome.
Celebrating Sunday Mass alongside cardinals, bishops, and other priests wearing red vestments to represent the fire of the Holy Spirit who descended upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Father invited those gathered in St. Peter’s Square and along Via della Conciliazione to also reflect on the words of his papal predecessors.
“The Spirit opens borders… The Church must always become anew what she already is,” the pope said, quoting Benedict XVI. “She must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race.”
During his homily, Pope Leo reiterated Pope Francis’ pleas for the end of ongoing violence, including femicide, creating “much discord” and “such great division” in the world.
“The Spirit breaks down barriers and tears down the walls of indifference and hatred because he ‘teaches us all things’ and ‘reminds us of Jesus’ words,” he said, reflecting on the Gospel of St. John.
“Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms,” he added.
The pope also prayed to God for his gift of unity and fraternity in the world.
Before concluding the celebration of the Mass with the Regina Caeli prayer in Latin, the Holy Father thanked his brother cardinals, bishops, and all representatives of ecclesial associations, movements, and new communities in Rome for their presence and witness of faith.
“Dear sisters and brothers, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, set out renewed from this Jubilee of yours. Go and bring to everyone the hope of the Lord Jesus!” he said. “May the Spirit of the Risen Christ open paths of reconciliation wherever there is war; may he enlighten governments and give them the courage to make gestures of de-escalation and dialogue.”
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Perhaps Trump should send Pope Leo the remaining piles of steel wall so he can shore up our previous pontiff’s heavy fines, incarceration penalties for any interloper migrants who violate Vatican privacy.
Apparently Ukraine should also follow Leo’s advice and tear down its security barriers to keep out those otherwise friendly Russian troops.
I was thinking we should invite the Pope to LA to quell the violence there.
At least he’s trying to return the Church to normalcy even if he’s an open border quack. I say quack because it’s proved entirely destructive everywhere.
Otherwise his contradiction of Pope Francis on marriage, who called it an ideal, Pope Leo says it’s not. Furthermore, the Vatican news media has removed Rupnik’s artwork and replaced it with beautiful mediaeval for today’s votive Mass Mary Mother of the Church. Amy Welborn posted it on X.
Masterfully said Father. At the least, it saved me from posting less articulate expressions of my growing discontent with the “give him time” voices.
Holy ghost fire
Our beautiful faces are aglow with the Holy Spirit. Happy feast of the Pentecost.
At any rate, the United States has many other internal and exterior problems it needs to face before blowing its brains out trying to exclude 10 million “illegal” Catholics. This is, at least, one own-goal that won’t happen, though the whole team might break up trying to mark it.
It’s funny how leftists play language games.
Enter Mexico without authorization, see how that goes for you.
Try posting without being trite and insipid.
It’s doubtful you’d know a leftist from a tortilla. Mass illegal immigration of US citizens permitted the violent occupation of Texas, California etc. In 1848. It’s unamerican to cry about border hopping now.
Some people are still fighting the War Between the States, some are still fighting the Mexican American War…
🙂
Mexico has it’s own laws re. residency & immigration which they enforce. Mutual respect for borders is what’s needed today & taking away the power of the human smuggling cartels that cause so much violence & bloodshed in Mexico.
I’m guessing from your spelling that you do not live in the US & perhaps are unfamiliar with the real situation at our border. It takes two sides to make a smuggling operation successful. We play our part & the cartels play there’s.
I agree about borders in general. The US border is a bit special though because of the history and because it’s the only Westwrn border that’s been crossed by a mass migration that is Westwrn, Christian, in the best sense -and not by Muslims and pagans. In Europe, open borders means the end of Europe. In the US it means historical continuity for half of it, and more young people of Christian culture. As for those who cross illegally, remember that this is a misdemeanour by US law, and hardly comparable to murder or drug trafficking. It does take two sides for people smuggling to happen.The side you forgot to mention is the huge, half century long demand of US businesses for labour at any price. It seems highly unjust to kick out then million Catholics who’ve been working so well for decades. I think it’s dangerous that Trump’s provocations will now expose so many many young Hispanics to the hard care Left. They will learn just how to confront the state. Trump started this, as all will remember. Nobody will thank him from rhe WASP side in 12 months, probably.
I mentioned the part the US plays in the border smuggling operations, Mr. Cervantes. We receive the human smuggling and contraband and launder the profits. It’s a two way street. No one’s hands are clean.
I’m very familiar with the US/Mexico border and have family who live there.
Miguel: No, it’s ILLEGAL for certain. Miguel, try entering any country without a passport…just try it once and you’ll quickly learn the meaning of “illegal.”
In engaging with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s recent statements, it’s vital to consider the nuances of the language employed, particularly concerning terms that carry significant contemporary resonance. The phrase “open borders” appears to be one such example that, while perhaps intended to convey a spirit of radical Christian charity, can inadvertently obscure the complexity of the issue.
There’s a substantial distinction between the theological imperative for an open heart within individual disciples of Jesus and the geopolitical reality of open borders for a sovereign nation. The former speaks to an interior disposition of boundless compassion and welcome toward all humanity, reflecting the core Christian call to love one’s neighbor. This is a profound spiritual challenge directed at personal transformation and interpersonal relationships.
Conversely, the concept of a nation with truly “open borders” describes a policy framework that could, by its very definition, undermine the fundamental structures and capabilities of a state. Nations, by their nature, possess a responsibility to manage their territorial integrity, civic order, and the well-being of their citizens. This responsibility often necessitates regulated entry and exit.
To foster a more fruitful dialogue, particularly within a secular and politically charged environment, it may be beneficial for papal pronouncements to clarify the distinction between these two concepts. Emphasizing the spiritual ideal of an open heart, while simultaneously acknowledging the practical and prudential considerations of national governance, could lead to a more effective reception of the Church’s message regarding migration and human dignity.
Sure, open borders except for the Pope’s realm: Vatican Promises Stiff Penalties for Illegal Aliens Crossing its Border
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/01/16/vatican-promises-stiff-penalties-for-illegal-aliens-crossing-its-border/