Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

At the heart of Jesus’ teachings lies the mystery of the Kingdom of God, which today’s Gospel likens to treasure and a pearl (cf. Mt 13:44–52). The parables convey the surprise of those who find something far beyond what they could have hoped for, so much so that selling or leaving everything behind no longer seems a sacrifice, but a gain. Indeed, from the very beginning, the evangelists portray Jesus’ call to follow him as irresistible. It is a free choice, yet also urgent and capable of eliciting a ready and wholehearted response. This is a first important aspect of how God is near and makes himself known: encountering his Kingdom marks a turning point that does not limit life but enlarges it. If anything must change on our part, it is only so that our lives may be opened to greater possibilities, not fewer.

There is a second aspect that Jesus seems to attach great importance to: the one who finds the treasure hidden in the field is likely a peasant, while the pearl is recognized as precious by a merchant, perhaps a traveler. Two more parables follow, in which the protagonists are fishermen and a scribe well-versed in both the old and the new. Other parables compare the Kingdom to a woman kneading dough or tidying her house, to a king planning for war, a man designing a tower, administrators managing payments or investments, and to shepherds and farmers. In short, the Kingdom of God reveals its inestimable beauty in different ways, but calls everyone — men and women, young and old, rich and poor — to a profound renewal. Everyone is capable of understanding it and is drawn to it.

Today, too, the Church is a communion of people who differ in origin, culture, abilities and responsibilities. Yet all are called to recognize themselves as “one” in Jesus Christ: he is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net that gathers those who are scattered. From the beginning, Jesus called and gathered around himself people who would otherwise never have come to know one another. In this way, he demonstrated that God has no favorites, but instead offers his love freely, especially to the little ones or those cast aside.

Brothers and sisters, all we have to do is ask for this gift, the very same one sought by the young King Solomon (cf. 1 Kings 3:5, 7–12). It is the gift of recognizing the pearl of great price, of discerning the treasure for which it is worth selling everything. While the consumer culture influences our tastes, constantly creating new needs only to sell us solutions that never satisfy, and that sometimes even poison the heart, we must learn to grasp what truly matters: the treasure of a relationship with God that opens us to joy and helps us to live our relationships with one another more fully.

May the intercession of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, direct our desire for life toward Jesus, so that in him it may find its complete fulfilment.

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After the Angelus prayer

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday, in Lebanon, Elias Hoayek, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1899 to 1931 and Founder of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, was beatified. For more than thirty years, he led the Maronite Church with great dedication and pastoral sensitivity. A man of dialogue and hope, he was an outstanding ecclesial, social and political leader, so much so that he came to be known as the “Father of Greater Lebanon.” May the prayers and intercession of the new blessed always accompany the Maronite faithful throughout the world, and obtain the gift of peace for all the people of Lebanon, a country dear to my heart.

I continue to follow with deep concern the ongoing and escalating violence in the Holy Land, where, in recent days, many civilians, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, have once again fallen victim. I make a heartfelt appeal for a return to negotiations to achieve a just political solution, founded on the equal dignity and equal rights of every human person. At the same time, I urge the rejection of further military actions and unilateral decisions, especially those that violate the respect for and the status quo of the holy places of every religion.

I likewise renew my plea regarding the situation throughout the Middle East, where the intensification of military operations has again wreaked violence and destruction, endangering the lives of countless civilians and further aggravating the shortages of drinking water and electricity. From the depths of my heart, I exhort all parties involved to suspend the attacks and urgently reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy, so that the longed-for peace for the entire region may be achieved without delay.

Let us continue to pray for all those peoples throughout the world who are suffering because of war. May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those in power, so that reconciliation and peace may soon prevail.

As devastating wildfires affect the various regions of France and Spain, I express my closeness to all those who have been affected and invite everyone to pray for them and for the emergency personnel engaged in relief efforts.

Today we celebrate the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, whose theme is taken from the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “I will never forget you” (Is 49:15). Together, let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift that the elderly are to the Church and society. Let us also commit ourselves to respecting and valuing the precious role they play, and to ensuring that they always receive the care, attention and assistance they deserve.

I warmly greet all of you present here, as well as those who have come from various parts of Italy and from around the world!

I offer a special welcome to the pilgrims belonging to the Opera della Chiesa and to the bishops accompanying them; I welcome and greet the children from the House of Mercy in Chortkiv, Ukraine, who are guests of the parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Nocera Superiore; to the young people from the Parish of Manerbio; to those taking part in the International Youth Gathering organized on the occasion of the bicentenary of the death of Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret; to the young pilgrims of the Catholic student movement Ӧnze-Lieve-Vrouw Ster-Der-Zee of Maldegem, Belgium; and to the cadets of the Carabinieri Training School in Velletri, accompanied by their chaplain and commanding officers.

I also greet the members of the Catholic Men Association of Cameroon.

I extend a special greeting to those taking part in the Sagra delle Pesche festival of Castel Gandolfo, who have brought the fruits of their harvest to be blessed.

This evening, the traditional procession of the Madonna Fiumarola will take place on the River Tiber here in Rome. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, obtain for all those participating in this beautiful tradition, and for each one of us, the grace to live every day according to the teachings of the Gospel.

And I wish all of you a happy Sunday!