By TWE News Desk

Pope Leo XIV has urged the faithful, especially young people, to turn to God as the source of true meaning in life. As he continued his reflections on the theme “Jesus Christ, Our Hope” in preparation for the Jubilee Year, the Pope offered words of consolation, urgency, and encouragement, grounded in Scripture and personal spiritual insight.

During his Catechesis on Wednesday 4 June, during the general audience, he said:“God never gives up on us; He is always ready to accept us and give meaning and hope to our lives, however hopeless our situation may seem and however insignificant our merits may appear,” the Holy Father proclaimed.

Drawing from the Gospel of Matthew, Pope Leo reflected on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where the landowner gives equal wages to all workers, even those who came late.

Vatican news reports that the message, the Pope explained, is not about unfairness but about God’s boundless generosity and the dignity with which He treats each of His children.

Justice in the Eyes of God

While the early workers in the parable express disappointment at receiving the same wage as the latecomers, Pope Leo clarified that this reaction stems from a limited human perspective of merit. “He wasn’t unfair—he was simply generous,” the Pope said, emphasizing that God looks beyond merit and sees need, dignity, and the heart’s openness.

In God’s vineyard, justice is not transactional, the Pope stressed. Rather, it is restorative and merciful. “God wants everyone to receive what they need in order to live. He calls each person personally and responds to their dignity.”

A Kingdom for All

Reiterating that God desires to share His Kingdom with everyone, Pope Leo affirmed that divine generosity is not doled out in portions based on time served but is a full, eternal, and joyful life available to all who accept His call. “He doesn’t rank us. He gives all of Himself to anyone who opens their heart to Him.”

In reflecting on modern doubts and spiritual procrastination, the Pope acknowledged that Christians today might be tempted to delay answering God’s call, especially if they perceive that the reward remains the same. To this, he invoked the wisdom of St. Augustine, who once asked, “Why then do you delay to follow the one who calls you, when you are sure of the reward but uncertain of the day?”

Pope Leo cautioned against this kind of hesitation, warning that delaying our response to God might result in missing out on the richness of what He promises.

A Message to Young People: ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’

Speaking directly to young people and those discerning their path in life, Pope Leo offered  encouragement: “Don’t wait, but respond with enthusiasm to the Lord who calls us to work in His vineyard. Don’t postpone, roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous, and you won’t be disappointed!”

He insisted that life gains its deepest meaning not in personal achievement or material success, but in serving in God’s vineyard that is, in living out one’s faith, in love, in service, and in openness to God’s plan.

“By working in God’s vineyard, you will find an answer to that deep question you carry within you: What is the meaning of my life?” he said.

In Times of Darkness, God Comes to Find Us

Concluding his catechesis, Pope Leo acknowledged that many feel lost in the silence of unanswered prayers or the passing of time. Yet even in these moments of uncertainty, he encouraged the faithful not to despair. “Let us ask the Lord to come out again and find us where we are waiting for Him,” he said. “He is generous, and He will come soon.”

The Pope’s words offered not only a spiritual roadmap but a reassurance that God’s timing and love transcend human limitations. As the Jubilee Year draws closer, Pope Leo XIV continues to prepare the Church for renewal, inviting all people to rediscover hope and meaning through a living relationship with Christ.