Photo ©: Vatican Media

(ANS – Castel Gandolfo) – In his homily during the Mass he presided over at the Church of Maria Santissima del Lago (Our Lady of the Lake) in Castel Gandolfo, followed by the traditional procession, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the beauty of such “simple gestures” of devotion, which are capable of renewing faith. In a world that dismisses forgiveness as synonymous with naivety and weakness, faith instead becomes a path toward peace, enabling us to “continue sailing toward our desired destination.”

The church’s architecture resembles that of a boat and provided Pope Leo XIV with the inspiration to evoke the Sea of Tiberias and Jesus who, in the midst of the storm, walks on the water and calls on people to have faith – the path to rediscovering peace and “continuing to sail toward the desired destination.”

From the altar of the church, consecrated by St. Paul VI in 1977, the Pope encouraged the faithful to follow the “path of life,” the path of love. At the end of Mass, Pope Leo XIV then boarded the Battello Falco, sailing across the lake alongside the traditional statue of Our Lady of the Lake.

The Popes and the Feast of Our Lady of the Lake

The Bishop of Rome presided over Mass on August 29, in an atmosphere of festive contemplation, recalling not only St. Paul VI but also St. John Paul II’s participation in the Feast of Our Lady of the Lake, honoring their memory and renewing their message. The texts chosen for the liturgy were, in fact, in keeping with this traditional occasion. In the First Reading, a passage from the prophet Jeremiah was proclaimed: “There was something like a fire burning in my heart; I am weary with holding it in, but I could not.”

Loving Without Compromise

Pursuing one’s ideal of communion to the very end, without hesitation, is also what Jesus teaches us to practice in the Gospel. After feeding 4,000 men and women with seven loaves and a few small fish, the Lord reveals to his disciples the sufferings he will have to endure in Jerusalem, leading up to his death and resurrection.

The Joy of the Reaper and the Intention of the Sower

“Only love saves,” then. The Pope urged us to scatter the seeds of this “infinite charity” throughout the world, for, as St. Augustine taught, “the joy of the reaper reveals the intention of the sower.”

Unfortunately, not everyone understands the beauty, goodness, and practical reality of this dream of the Creator; indeed, many think it is a utopia. Turning the other cheek – they say – is for losers […] But Jesus remains categorical: only the way of love is the way of life.

The Futility of Hatred and Violence

Pope Leo XIV also warned against dangerous illusions:

Hatred and violence bring nothing good, but only destruction and death, always, even when they are a response to injustices suffered. We see this every day, from the small matters of our domestic lives to the grand stage of the world.

For this reason, whatever the wound, whatever the offense, let us not allow evil to disfigure our humanity and corrupt our hearts.

Having Faith in the Midst of the Storm

A commitment that must not lead to discouragement in the face of difficulties. This is what the procession itself reminds us of, as it evokes the aforementioned miracle of Jesus walking on the water, reaching his frightened disciples and leading them back to shore after calming the storm.

Simple and Thoughtful Gestures

Recalling “simple gestures,” which are repeated from generation to generation, is an effective way to renew faith and devotion. The Pontiff emphasized this, reflecting on the thoughtfulness of the small local community in gathering solemnly to represent the whole Church: “a single body, in prayer, in feelings, in intentions, in the orderly and unanimous development of our being together.”

Let us therefore draw close this evening to Jesus and Mary, to the Son and the Mother, so that we may be united, not only on the lake, but on every night throughout the world.

The Salesians’ Commitment in Castel Gandolfo

The Mass was concelebrated, among others, by the Bishop of the Diocese of Albano, Bishop Vincenzo Viva; the parish priest of the Church of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo, Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus; and members of the Salesian Generalate in Via Marsala, Rome.

The Start of the Procession

Once Mass had ended, Pope Leo XIV and the faithful left the church and carried the statue of Our Lady of the Lake in procession, initially along the street, as far as the “Tropicana” beach club.

Once past the beach, the statue was loaded onto a boat provided by the Castelli Romani Park Authority, which the Pope also boarded before setting sail for the nearby “Giorgio’s Beach” resort, at the foot of the Apostolic Palace. Accompanying the boat, as is traditional, were around 10 civilian vessels – including two canoes – and several law enforcement vessels.

Source: Vatican News