Pope Leo XIV: Love for neighbor begins with a personal relationship with God

Beginning with the question posed in Sundayʼs Gospel, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Pope Leo XIV focused his reflection before the Angelus on the theme of love.

The faithful gathered in St. Peterʼs Square awaited the words of hope from the vicar of Christ, their pope.

At the heart of love, Leo XIV placed our relationship with God, emphasizing that this is where the true meaning of love is found.

“Indeed, it is not enough to know that God exists, that he is the only God, or that he is the Almighty. The Lord seeks a personal relationship with us: The one true God wants to become our God,” the pope said.

“In our encounter with him, the commandment of love is neither an obligation nor an imposition.”

He then turned to the meaning of authentic love, explaining that “our love can be authentic only when it is a response to his love, which always precedes us. From this arises the need for a total commitment that involves the whole person: heart, soul, and mind.”

Heart, soul, and mind must all be engaged in our relationship with God so that we become capable of looking at ourselves “and our neighbors through the eyes of Christ, from his perspective. In this…