Pope Leo XIV on Pentecost Sunday: The Holy Spirit inspires us to ‘break down walls’
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost in St. Peter’s Square on June 8, 2025. In his homily, he emphasized the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. / Credit: Vatican Media
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.”
