The inaugural general audience of Pope Leo XIV was held in Saint Peter's Square this morning. The event started with a ride in the popemobile among the faithful and a blessing of the children. The Pontiff initiated the new cycle of catechesis for the Jubilee Year, entitled 'Jesus Christ, our Hope', focusing on the Parable of the Sower from the Gospel of Matthew.
"A particular parable", he commented, "because it introduces all the others." Parables, Leo XIV highlighted, are based on everyday life but have significant meanings: they provoke us, question us, and push us beyond appearances. The seed, a recurring symbol in the Gospels, signifies God's word, which has the power to fertilize all reality. “Each word of the Gospel is a seed that is sown into the soil of our lives", stated the Pope. And even if the soil is hard, dry, or choked by brambles, God sows generously. "He does not wait for us to be the best soil: he trusts us and always loves us", he continued, encouraging to see in this gesture God's tremendous hope for each individual. The parable, he concluded, reminds us that despite the difficulties, we are called to welcome the Gospel with openness and readiness. And perhaps God's faith, the Pontiff suggested, can inspire a desire to become fertile soil.