Pope Leo XIV's First Mass Warns of the Dangers of Atheism
Pope Leo XIV issues a cautionary message emphasizing the importance of maintaining religious belief in the face of potential spiritual erosion.
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At his inaugural Mass, Pope Leo XIV delved into the perils of straying from faith. "Drift away from faith, and you're likely to face a slew of issues—loss of life's purpose, disregard for mercy, degradation of human dignity, family crises, and a plethora of society's wounds," he warned.
Modern society often regards faith as folly, something only for the feeble-minded, according to Leo. Many choose other pursuits over faith, such as technology, wealth, success, power, and pleasure. He pointed out that even the figure of Jesus Christ is often reduced to a charming leader or superhuman, a perspective he referred to as "practical atheism."
Prior to his sermon, Leo, as the first American Pope, addressed the cardinals in English. He expressed his gratitude for the honor of bearing the cross and undertaking this role. He expressed faith in their continued support as they propagate the good news and the gospel together, serving as Christ's companions.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Fun Fact: Interestingly, Pope Leo XIV's first public address was notfrom the altar but from the Vatican balcony, where he emphasized the need for Christ's peace, the importance of being missionary disciples, and his determination to build a more synodal church[1][2][3].
- Pope Leo XIV's warning in his first Mass highlighted the potential consequences of the loss of faith, such as the degradation of human dignity, family crises, and a disregard for mercy.
- In contrast to the common perception of faith as a sign of irrationality, Pope Leo XIV expressed that modern society's pursuit of technology, wealth, success, power, and pleasure can be a form of "practical atheism," reducing the figure of Jesus Christ to a mere charismatic leader.
- Despite the negative connotations often associated with faith, Pope Leo XIV, as the first American Pope, approached his role with unwavering faith, addressing the cardinals before his sermon with gratitude for being Christ's companions.
- Additionally, the health-and-wellness sector, with its focus on mental health, could benefit from engaging with the teachings of Pope Leo XIV, as his warnings about the potential dangers of straying from faith may offer insights on the role of faith in maintaining emotional and psychological well-being.
