Pope Leo XIV has reignited the conversation on family life, reminding the world that God’s perfect blueprint is already before us—the Holy Family. Speaking at a Jubilee Meeting, he called families to rediscover ancestral faith and embrace the hope that flows from Jesus.
Holy Family, Perfect Model for Families
In a deeply moving address delivered in the Vatican on Friday, Pope Leo XIV urged families across the world to look to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the “perfect model” God has gifted humanity.
His remarks came during the Jubilee Meeting organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), which focused on the future of the family in light of the Jubilee of Hope.
The Pope framed his message around three simple yet profound words—jubilee, hope, and family.
Returning to the Roots of Faith
Reflecting on the meaning of jubilee in the Old Testament, Pope Leo explained that it represented a “return.” Today, he said, this return means coming back to God and to Jesus, who must remain the center of Christian life.
“The Jubilee of Hope,” the Holy Father emphasized, “invites us to leave these peripheries and return to our roots: to the faith we received from our parents, to the persevering prayer of our grandmothers counting the beads of the rosary, to their simple, humble, and honest lives which, like leaven, sustained so many families and communities.”
This imagery of grandparents’ faith and devotion, passed down quietly and powerfully, became a central theme of his address. In their example, he said, we rediscover the kind of faith that sustains families even in difficult times.
True Joy Is Found in Jesus
Pope Leo XIV reminded participants that the ultimate goal of this “return” is joy—true joy that flows only from Jesus Christ.
“In Him,” he stressed, “we find our true joy: the jubilation of knowing we are at home, in the place where we are meant to be.”
He warned, however, that modern life tempts families to build their foundations on worldly securities and shallow expectations rather than on the eternal truths of God. The Jubilee of Hope, he said, is an invitation to resist this trap and rediscover the joy of belonging fully to God.
Challenges Facing Families Today
Acknowledging reality, Pope Leo did not shy away from the struggles that many families face across the globe. He pointed to the pressing issues of poverty, forced migration, and violence, which continue to weaken family structures and leave many vulnerable.
In the face of such challenges, he urged both the Church and public institutions to play their part in protecting and uplifting families. Only then, he said, can society fully reflect God’s plan for humanity.
Family as Gift and Task
Moving to a more personal reflection, Pope Leo described the family as both a “gift and a task.”
“In every child, in every husband or wife,” he explained, “God entrusts us with His Son, with His Mother, just as He did with Saint Joseph—so that together with them, we may be a foundation, leaven, and witness of God’s love among humanity.”
He recalled Pope Saint Paul VI’s words spoken in Nazareth, where he had invited Christians to follow the Holy Family’s example of silence, work, and prayer. This daily rhythm, Pope Leo suggested, is where God’s plan of love takes root in each household.
Entrusting Families to the Holy Family
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV entrusted the intentions of all families to the intercession of the Holy Family.
“The Holy Family,” he declared, “is the perfect model God offers as a response to the desperate cry for help from families. By imitating it, our homes will become living torches of God’s light.”
With these words, the Pope not only offered encouragement but also issued a profound challenge: to make every home a place where faith, hope, and love flourish in the example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
