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God's love, mercy, and goodness are at the core of every vocation, including that of the pope, according to Pope Leo XIV. In a homily delivered at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on May 20, he stated, “Let us ask the Lord for the grace to cultivate and spread his charity and to become true neighbors to one another,” paraphrasing his predecessor, Pope Francis.
The pope emphasized the transformative power of love by referring to St. Paul’s encounter with Christ, which led him from being a persecutor to becoming “all things to all people,” even embracing martyrdom. This visit followed the Mass inaugurating Pope Leo XIV's Petrine ministry in St. Peter’s Square and was part of a series of visits to Rome's major papal basilicas after his election.
During his visit, Pope Leo prayed at St. Paul's tomb and participated in a prayer service dedicated to St. Paul, known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” The service aimed at entrusting “the beginning of this new pontificate to the intercession of the apostle,” as mentioned by Pope Leo.
Reflecting on a reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Pope Leo highlighted that St. Paul recognized his vocation as stemming from God’s love, even while he was far from Gospel teachings and persecuting the church. He drew parallels with St. Augustine's conversion experience and remarked that "we cannot love unless someone has loved us first."
Pope Leo also elaborated on "the obedience of faith," citing Paul's experience on the road to Damascus where he was given "the opportunity to make a decision" rather than having his freedom taken away.
Quoting from Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 address, he reiterated that "'God loves us. This is the great truth of our life; it is what makes everything else meaningful.'"
Concluding his visit with blessings for those present and marking several babies with signs of the cross on their foreheads, Pope Leo underscored that faith leads individuals "to open our hearts to this mystery of love." He expressed hope for divine guidance in fulfilling his mission as Peter's successor.
