Serve the Holy See by striving for holiness, pope tells officials, staff June 9, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Those serving the Holy See can serve its mission best by striving to live a holy life in conformity to Christ, Pope Leo XIV said. The fruitfulness of the church, he said, “is realized in the lives of her members to the extent that they relive, ‘in miniature,’ what the Mother lived, namely, they love according to the love of Jesus.” “All the fruitfulness of the church and of the Holy See depends on the cross of Christ. Otherwise, it is only appearance, if not worse,” he said in his homily during Mass celebrating the Jubilee of the Holy See June 9, the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Carrying the Jubilee cross, Pope Leo XIV leads a procession including members of the Roman Curia toward the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica during the Jubilee of the Holy See at the Vatican June 9, 2025. Behind the pope is Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) The Jubilee celebration included a morning meditation by Italian Sister Maria Gloria Riva, a member of the Perpetual Adoration Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Paul VI Audience Hall. In the presence of Pope Leo and cardinals, bishops, priests and religious and lay men and women working in the Roman Curia or connected with the mission of the Holy See, she spoke about hope relying on having a healthy balance between the past and future. It is dangerous to put too much emphasis on either the past or the future, she said. “The past, with its glory and sorrows, can represent a trampoline” with which one leaps toward “the great horizon” of eternal life. After the meditation, Pope Leo took the wooden Jubilee cross and led those gathered in a procession into St. Peter’s Square toward the basilica and through the Holy Door. He then celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his homily, the pope underlined the connection between the mission of the church and Mary as mother of the church. “The fruitfulness of the church is the same fruitfulness as Mary’s; it is realized in the lives of her members” to the extent that they love, like Mary, according to the love of Jesus, he said. The fruitfulness of the church and the Holy See depends on the cross of Christ, he said. “In fact, the fruitfulness of Mary and of the church are inextricably linked to their holiness, which is their conformity to Christ.” “The Holy See is holy as the church is holy, in her original core, in the very fabric of her being,” Pope Leo said. “The Apostolic See thus preserves the holiness of its roots while being preserved by them.” However, the Holy See also “lives in the holiness of each of its members. Therefore, the best way to serve the Holy See is to strive for holiness, each according to his or her particular state of life and the work entrusted to him or her,” he said. “For example, a priest who personally carries a heavy cross because of his ministry, yet every day goes to the office and tries to do his job to the best of his ability with love and faith, this priest participates and contributes to the fruitfulness of the church,” he said. “Similarly, a father or mother of a family who lives in a difficult situation at home, with a child who is cause for concern or a sick parent, and continues his or her work with commitment, that man or woman is fruitful with the fruitfulness of Mary and of the church.” Just as Mary supported the ministry of the Apostle Peter, “the mother church supports the ministry of Peter’s successors with the Marian charism,” he said. This Marian aspect, “with its motherhood, gift of Christ and of the Spirit,” ensures the fruitfulness and holiness of the Petrine ministry, he said. “Dear friends, let us praise God for his Word, the lamp that guides our steps, even in our daily life at the service of the Holy See,” he said, praying that God’s church, “sustained by the love of Christ, may be ever more fruitful in the Spirit, exult in the holiness of her children, and draw to her embrace all the whole human family.” Read More Vatican News Pope Leo’s visit to Spain could spark a much-needed ‘spiritual revival’ ‘Hidden Glory’: Highlights from Bishop Varden’s meditations for papal Lenten retreat Augustinian shares how Pope Leo fought evil in Peru as new bust unveiled in Chicago Pope Leo XIV pens book introduction: ‘Only peaceful hearts can build a world of peace’ Our Lady of Guadalupe is the model of ‘perfect inculturation,’ Pope Leo says Pope Leo XIV to embark on 10-day Africa tour, trips to Spain, Monaco Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
