Pope Leo XIV closed the year 2025 with a solemn appeal for personal reflection and global responsibility, urging believers to confront the past year honestly while rejecting violence justified by ideology or distorted faith. The message was delivered during the traditional end-of-year liturgical celebration held at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Pope presided over First Vespers and the singing of the ancient Te Deum hymn of thanksgiving.
The ceremony also marked the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year, a period that the Pope described as a spiritual milestone intended to renew hope and inspire moral clarity. Addressing thousands gathered in the basilica, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the transition into a new year should be more than a calendar change, calling it a moment to reassess personal choices and collective direction.
In his homily, the pontiff encouraged the faithful to pause and look back on the year that had passed through a spiritual lens. Rather than focusing on achievements or failures alone, he invited individuals to engage in a calm and prayerful examination of conscience. According to the Pope, such reflection should ask whether daily actions aligned with one’s beliefs and values, and whether faith was lived authentically in ordinary circumstances.
He stressed that this process should not be driven by fear or regret. Instead, Pope Leo XIV said the review of one’s life should be rooted in trust, allowing both successes and shortcomings to be placed before God. He added that this attitude prepares believers to enter the new year with humility and confidence rather than anxiety.
Beyond personal reflection, the Pope delivered a firm condemnation of violence carried out under ideological or religious pretenses. He warned that ideas, when manipulated and turned into tools of division, can become as destructive as physical weapons. Referring to ongoing global conflicts, he stated that war in all its forms represents a failure of humanity and a denial of human dignity.
The pontiff strongly rejected acts of violence committed in the name of religion, describing such behavior as a severe distortion of faith. He noted that invoking God to justify killing not only betrays religious teachings but also deepens suffering and injustice. During the address, prayers were offered for civilians affected by war, displaced families, and all victims of armed conflict worldwide.
Looking toward the future, Pope Leo XIV linked the conclusion of the Jubilee Year with a broader sense of responsibility. He explained that the Holy Year was never meant to be an isolated spiritual event, but rather a foundation for ongoing renewal. The Pope urged Catholics to carry forward the themes of mercy, forgiveness, and hope into their communities, workplaces, and public life.
He described the Jubilee as a sign meant to inspire constructive change, encouraging believers to participate in building a more compassionate and just society. According to the Pope, the true measure of the Holy Year’s impact will be seen in how its spiritual fruits are lived out long after its official conclusion.
The Te Deum hymn, traditionally sung as an expression of gratitude, framed the ceremony as both a moment of thanksgiving and a call to responsibility. Pope Leo XIV concluded by entrusting the coming year to God, invoking the guidance of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. He reminded those present that faith is a continuous journey, and that each new year represents another step forward rather than a clean break from the past.
As 2025 came to a close, the Pope’s message combined introspection with urgency, offering a vision of faith rooted in peace, accountability, and hope for renewal in a divided world.
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