Rimini, Aug 2026 : Pope Leo XIV on Saturday called on Christians to view authority not as a position of privilege but as a responsibility to serve others, saying that every person who follows Christ is called to welcome, forgive, liberate and help those in need.
The Pope made the remarks during Mass for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time in the Italian coastal city of Rimini, bringing to a close his one-day pastoral visit to the Republic of San Marino and Rimini. The visit also included an encounter with participants of the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples.
Beginning his homily, Pope Leo reflected on St Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as the Christ and Messiah, as recounted in the day’s Gospel. He said Christians gather because they believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal Son of the Father, who was sent into the world to serve humanity and give His life for others.
According to the Pope, St Peter’s declaration of faith points to a fundamental Christian truth: the path to life is found in the example of God, who places Himself at the service of humanity.
Pope Leo linked this message to Jesus’ handing of the keys of the Kingdom to Peter. He explained that the gesture should be understood as a powerful reminder that authority within the Church is ultimately a form of service.
He stressed that this responsibility does not apply only to bishops, priests and other Church leaders. Every baptized Christian, he said, is called to serve others by embracing, welcoming, reconciling, forgiving and helping those who are burdened by sin and its consequences.
Reflecting on the Old Testament reading, in which an unjust steward is removed from his position and replaced by the righteous Eliakim, Pope Leo said that everything human beings possess is ultimately a gift from God.
These gifts, he explained, are entrusted to people so that they may become instruments of salvation and justice for one another. The Pope urged Christians to recognise their responsibilities and use their positions, abilities and resources for the benefit of others.
Turning to St Paul’s reflections in the Second Reading, Pope Leo spoke about the mystery and inscrutability of God’s plans. He said these plans are not difficult because of complicated reasoning but because the depth of God’s love exceeds human understanding, expectations and capacity.
The Pope encouraged the faithful to imitate this divine love through honesty, generosity and benevolence. He particularly praised the people of the Romagna region for these qualities and urged them to continue making the area a welcoming place.
He said the region should offer visitors more than recreation and entertainment, encouraging it to become a place where people can also encounter spirituality, reflection and deeper human relationships.
With the summer holiday season nearing its end, Pope Leo also urged people not to allow periods of rest and recreation to become occasions for distraction or spiritual emptiness. Instead, he encouraged the faithful to use moments of rest to rediscover themselves and deepen their relationship with God and others.
The Christian community, he said, has an important role in creating spaces of hospitality, reflection and charity. This responsibility extends beyond welcoming tourists and holidaymakers to reaching out to people facing hardship.
Pope Leo specifically referred to those who are wounded physically or emotionally and those who have been forced to leave their homelands in search of refuge, food and assistance. Christians and institutions, he said, must remain ready to offer help and solidarity to such people.
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo recalled the attitudes highlighted by the local bishop and encouraged the faithful to embrace prayer, unity, listening, courage, simplicity and gratitude.
The Pope thanked the people of Rimini and the surrounding region for their warm welcome and entrusted them to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and their patron saints.
His message in Rimini placed service, compassion and hospitality at the heart of Christian life, reminding the faithful that authority and responsibility acquire their true meaning when they are placed at the service of others.
