Pope Leo XIV emphasizes connection between love for God and neighbor

During a reflection prior to the Angelus prayer on October 25, Pope Leo XIV addressed the fundamental relationship between loving God and loving one's neighbor. Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, the Pontiff noted that the greatest commandments—loving God with one's entire being and loving others as oneself—are inextricably linked.

The Pope explained that authentic love for God is not a mere obligation or imposition, but a personal response to God's preceding love. He stated that this intimate relationship with the divine enables individuals to view themselves and others through the lens of Christ, transforming self-interest into charity and service.

Warning that faith without love becomes empty and good works reduce to mere moralism, Leo XIV cited Saint Thérèse of Lisieux to highlight how love drives the Church's mission. He concluded by calling for concrete gestures of solidarity and fraternity as evidence of true faith.