Pope Leo XIV second homily on listening and vocation

The Pope Leo XIV near St. Peter's Tomb on May 11, 2025.

A Message of Listening, Vocation, and Mission from the Tomb of Peter

On his first Sunday as Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful homily on listening and vocation, echoing the Gospel of the Good Shepherd. Standing near the tomb of Saint Peter, he called Catholics—especially in the United States—to rediscover the grace of listening and the courage of discipleship.

Celebrating Mass in the Vatican Grottos, the Pope spoke in both English and Italian, addressing the universal mission of the Church. His message was rooted in listening to the voice of Christ, as Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.”

The Call to Listen and Respond

In this second homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of listening to God’s Word and to others, inviting the faithful to foster a spirit of dialogue, not judgment. He described listening as a foundation for vocations, urging Catholics to create spaces where young people can hear and respond to God’s call.

“We must encourage young people to hear the Lord’s voice, follow it, and serve joyfully in the Church,” he said.

Vocation Through Joyful Witness

Pope Leo XIV pointed to lives lived with Gospel joy as key to increasing vocations. His remarks reflected themes discussed during recent meetings with the cardinals, where vocations were a central concern. The Pope's words align with his background as a missionary and a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, known for its emphasis on community and discernment.

A Mission for the World—Starting from Rome

Shifting to Italian, the Pope reminded listeners of Paul and Barnabas, who proclaimed the Gospel from Antioch to Rome. He encouraged Catholics in the U.S. to be bold in their faith and generous in their witness:

“Courage! Without fear! Serve with sacrifice, for the mission is great.”

Prayer and Unity Before the Apostles

After the homily, Leo XIV prayed before the tomb of Saint Peter and paused at the graves of his predecessors, including Pope Benedict XVI, a fellow admirer of Saint Augustine. He concluded with a moment before Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, underscoring his deep bond with Catholics across the Western Hemisphere.

Here is the full transcript of Pope Leo XIV’s homily on listening and vocation.

HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
IN THE CRYPT OF SAINT PETER’S BASILICA

Vatican Grottoes
Sunday, 11 May 2025

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I will begin with a word in English and maybe another one in Italian.

The Gospel that we just heard on this Sunday of the Good Shepherd: My sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me.

I think about the Good Shepherd, especially on this Sunday, which is so significant in Easter time. While we celebrate the beginning of this new mission of the ministry that the Church has called me to, there is no better example than Jesus Christ himself, to whom we give our lives and whom we depend on. Jesus Christ whom we follow, he is the Good Shepherd, and he is the one who gives us life: the way and the truth and the life. So we celebrate with joy this day and we deeply appreciate your presence here.

Today is Mother’s Day. I think there is only one mother present: happy Mother’s Day! One of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God is the love that is poured out by mothers, especially to their children and grandchildren.

This Sunday is known to be special for several different reasons: one of the first ones I would mention is vocations. During the recent work of the Cardinals, before and after the election of the new Pope, we spoke a lot about vocations in the Church and how important it is that all of us search together. First and foremost by giving [a] good example in our lives, with joy, living the joy of the Gospel, not discouraging others, but rather looking for ways to encourage young people to hear the voice of the Lord and to follow it and to serve in the Church. “I am the Good Shepherd”, he tells us.

[In Italian] Now I will add just a word also in Italian, because this mission we carry forward is no longer to a single diocese, but to all the Church: this universal spirit is important. And we also find it in the first Reading we heard (Acts 13, 14:43-52). Paul and Barnabas go to Antioch; the Jews go first, but they do not want to listen to the voice of the Lord, and so they begin to announce the Gospel to all the world, to the pagans. They go, as we know, on this great mission. Saint Paul comes to Rome, where he also eventually [fulfilled] it. Another example of the witness of a good shepherd. But in that example, there is also a very special invitation to us all. I also said it in a very personal way, what it is to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.

Take courage! Without fear! Many times in the Gospel Jesus says: “Do not be afraid”. We need to be courageous in the witness we give, with the world and above all with life: giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live out this very mission.

I saw a little reflection that made me think a lot, because it also comes out in the Gospel. In this sense, someone asked: “When you think about your life, how do you explain where you have arrived?”. The answer they gave in this reflection is in a certain sense mine too, with the verb “to listen”. How important it is to listen! Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice”. And I think it is important for all of us to learn how to listen more, to enter into dialogue. First and foremost, with the Lord: always listen to the Word of God. Then also listen to others, to know how to build bridges, to know how to listen without judging, not closing the doors thinking that we have all the truth and no-one else can tell us anything. It is very important to listen to the voice of the Lord, to listen to it, in this dialogue, and to see where the Lord is calling us towards.

Walking together in the Church, let us ask the Lord to give us this grace of being able to listen to His Word, to serve all His people.