There is the fragility of a man and, at the same time, the courage to leave behind one’s certainties. There are familiar shores and reassuring harbors, from which Joseph chooses to depart and head out to sea, entrusting himself to a course that does not arise from human calculations but from the hands of God. This is the image of Jesus' foster father that Pope Leo XIV placed at the center of his Angelus catechesis this morning, December 21, in St. Peter's Square, which was already crowded and filled with Christmas spirit. The liturgy for the fourth Sunday of Advent urges us to focus our attention on Joseph, Mary's husband, at the pivotal moment when God entrusts him with his mission through a dream. This is a pivotal chapter in the history of salvation, featuring a very human protagonist: weak and fallible like all humans, but capable of daring and unshakeable faith. The evangelist describes him as "just", the Pontiff recalled, depicting the figure of a devout Israelite committed to the Law and the life of the synagogue. However, this fairness does not convert into rigidity. On the contrary, Joseph combines tremendous sensitivity and humanity, which shine through when he is confronted with a painful and difficult-to-understand situation: Mary's pregnancy. Even before the angel’s announcement, Joseph rejects the path of scandal and public condemnation, choosing instead a discreet and merciful separation. Leo XIV highlighted that Joseph's heart is prepared to listen to God's will because of his inherent dignity. When the Lord reveals to Joseph in a dream his plan of salvation and the unexpected position he must play—that of spouse of the Virgin and guardian of the Messiah—he commits a daring act of trust. He lets go of even his last certainties and entrusts himself entirely to a future he does not control, but places in God’s hands. Saint Augustine depicts this calm and decisive assent as follows: "Through Joseph's piety and charity, a son was born of the Virgin Mary, the very Son of God”. Piety and charity, mercy and unwavering trust are the virtues the Pope wished to emphasize as Christmas draws near. These virtues, he added, prepare the heart to encounter Christ and others, allowing each individual to be for others "a welcoming nativity scene, a hospitable home, a sign of God's presence". Thus, the last invitation to daily life is to forgive, encourage, and give hope to those we meet along the path. And above all, to reaffirm through prayer our surrender to the Lord and His Providence, entrusting everything to Him with confidence, as Joseph, a silent and strong man, did on the eve of God's incarnation into the world. (peg, December 21)