In a St. Peter’s Square filled with the faithful and pilgrims under the Roman heat, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Angelus prayer this afternoon on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome. Appearing at the window of the Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff reflected on the complementary witness of the two saints, defining it as a true “seal of the New Testament” that teaches the Church today the true value of communion.

For the Holy Father, the marked diversity of personalities, characters, and histories between the fisherman from Galilee and the Pharisee from Tarsus, far from being an obstacle, is great news. “The story of Peter and Paul shows us that the communion to which the Lord calls us is a unison of voices and personalities that does not eliminate anyone’s freedom,” he noted, inviting Christians to avoid rigidity and “transform our differences into a workshop of unity and communion, of fraternity and reconciliation.”

A greatness shaped by forgiveness

Leo XIV emphasized that the strength of the Church rests not on human perfection, but on the capacity to be transformed. Recalling that the New Testament does not gloss over or conceal the contradictions, conflicts, or failings of the two apostles, he stressed that their spiritual authority matured thanks to divine mercy. “Their greatness was shaped by forgiveness,” he insisted, reminding everyone that the risen Lord drew near to them constantly because “Jesus never calls just once.”

This martyrial testimony gave rise to a profound historical paradigm shift that transformed Rome itself. Thanks to the sacrifice of its patron saints, the presence of the Christian message in the world was firmly established under a very clear principle: a force understood “not as domination, but as service to life,” always oriented towards reconciliation and welcoming the most remote.

Against pastoral routine and in favor of the vulnerable

Looking at the present state of Catholic communities, the Pope has warned against the danger of apathy and inertia. He has pointed out the risk of falling into the inertia of applying “the same old pastoral plans” without experiencing genuine inner renewal or opening oneself to dialogue with current world events and challenges. In response, he has proposed constant discernment to find new approaches to preaching the Gospel.

On the institutional and ecumenical level, the Bishop of Rome used the feast day to explicitly reaffirm the core of his own ministry: “My episcopal service is a service to unity.” He recalled that the Church of Rome is invisibly united to other Christian denominations by an “ecumenism of blood,” a bond forged by the martyrs of yesterday and today that impels us to serve global communion with love.

After reciting the Marian prayer, the Pope offered a warm greeting to the inhabitants of the Italian capital and to all those who support them in their daily lives. “My thoughts, accompanied by prayer, are especially with the sick, the lonely, and prisoners,” he said, extending his gratitude to the parish priests, monks, and nuns who, through their daily work, keep alive the “great Christian heart” of the diocese.