Pope Leo XIV Urges Faithful to Prioritize Love Over Consumerist Beauty on Solemnity of the Assumption
Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to reject modern consumerist standards of beauty in favor of enduring love during a homily on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Speaking at the Pontifical Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova, the Pope noted that while sacred art often depicts Mary as a youthful woman rising to heaven, this serves as a contrast to the physical aging experienced by humans. He argued that true beauty is found in revealing signs of love rather than hiding the marks of time. During the liturgy, the Pope urged Catholics to reexamine hedonistic aesthetic standards and instead seek serenity, kindness, and peace. He described love as humanity's most beautiful adornment and encouraged the faithful to follow the light of the Risen Lord by looking to Mary as a sign of hope. In a midday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV also invoked blessings for communities in need of consolation, specifically mentioning those in Ukraine, Russia, and Colombia.
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