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Pope Leo XIV told members of the Vatican Curia in a June 9 homily that prioritizing growth in holiness is the best way to fruitfully serve the Holy See.
His reflection came during the one-day Jubilee of the Holy See, where the Pope led those who work and serve at the Vatican in a special pilgrimage through the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica and celebrated Mass for them.
In his homily, Pope Leo reflected on Mary’s and the Church’s fruitfulness and holiness, which are cultivated through conformity to Christ.
“The Holy See is holy as the Church is holy, in her original core, in the very fabric of her being,” Pope Leo said. “The Apostolic See thus preserves the holiness of its roots while being preserved by them. But it is no less true that it also lives in the holiness of each of its members. Therefore, the best way to serve the Holy See is to strive for holiness, each according to his or her particular state of life and the work entrusted to him or her.”
He gave examples of a priest who carries a heavy cross in his ministry but rises daily to serve lovingly and faithfully as best he can, and of a parent who, though experiencing a difficult family situation, remains committed to his or her calling. The people who do this contribute in fruitfulness to the Church, Pope Leo said.
In the Mass’ gospel, from John chapter 19, the Apostle John and the Blessed Mother were standing beneath Jesus’ cross when they heard Jesus say to Mary, “Woman, here is your son!” and to John, “Here is your mother!”
This is a turning point for Mary’s fruitful motherhood, as Jesus entrusts all people to her maternal care, Pope Leo said.
“All the fruitfulness of the Church and of the Holy See depends on the Cross of Christ,” Pope Leo said.
Mary’s fruitful motherhood and maternal charism are also crucially supportive of the papal, or Petrine, office, according to the Pope, who said that Mary ensures unity in the disciples’ prayer. He reflected on the Mass’ reading from chapter one of the Acts of the Apostles, which relates that Mary was present in the Upper Room with the Apostles and disciples. Here, Mary is living out the maternal mission given to her at the cross through service to the small but growing Church.
The Petrine office is seen in this passage as well, as Peter is listed first among the apostles.
“But he himself, in truth, is the first to be supported by Mary in his ministry. In the same way, Mother Church supports the ministry of Peter’s successors with the Marian charism,” Pope Leo said. “The Holy See experiences in a very special way the coexistence of the two poles; the Marian and the Petrine. It is precisely the Marian pole, with its motherhood, gift of Christ and of the Spirit, that ensures the fruitfulness and holiness of the Petrine pole.”
He concluded with a prayer for the holiness of the Church and with encouragement to those present to thank God for Scripture as “the lamp that guides our steps, even in our daily life at the service of the Holy See.”
