Pope Leo: Help others discover the ocean of love in the Heart of Jesus

Image Vatican Media

Source: Vatican Media

The final Mass of Pope Leo's Apostolic Journey to Spain took place with the stunning backdrop of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean glistening behind him.

In his homily, Pope Leo invited the faithful to contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the centre of human history - a place where the joys, hopes, sorrows, and anxieties of all resonate.

"No human being is an island," he declared, emphasizing that the Christian life is a continuous exodus toward others and toward God.

The Pope warned against the pitfalls of a society consumed by haste, materialism, and the pursuit of profit, which risk trapping individuals in a "sterile dynamism." In a region heavily dependent on tourism, he urged both locals and visitors to rediscover simplicity, gratitude, and the value of human relationships over mere commerce. "There is life when you give life," the Pope stressed.

Reflecting on the day's Gospel, the Pope highlighted the privileged place of the marginalized in God's plan. Divine revelation, he noted, often manifests itself to those the world deems insignificant or powerless.

The Pope cited his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, which underscores that the poor are not merely recipients of charity but bearers of a wisdom which can evangelise the Church itself.

The Canary Islands are a key transit point for migrants crossing the Atlantic. Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the harsh realities faced by migrants, including exploitation by human traffickers, and called on Christians to offer not just material aid but true fraternity.

He challenged local communities to allow themselves to be transformed by their encounters with newcomers, describing the experiences of the poor and migrants as a source of wisdom for societies often trapped in comfort and individualism.

Drawing his homily to a close, the Pope expressed gratitude to the people of the Canary Islands for their spirit of welcome and fraternity.

He encouraged Christian communities to pay special attention to the young, the vulnerable, the rich and poor alike, locals and visitors. "God is love," he reminded them, quoting the First Letter of John.

Leo urged the faithful to help others discover "the ocean of love" in the Heart of Christ, ensuring no one feels excluded from encountering God and their brothers and sisters.

At the end of the Mass, Pope Leo XIV offered thanks "to God and to all who welcomed me and helped out in countless ways", preparing his visits to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat, and the Canary Islands.

"I return to Rome deeply moved by the great affection that has surrounded me," Pope Leo said, "and comforted by the testimonies of faith and love for the Church, expressions of Spain's great Catholic heart."

The Pope praised what he described as Spain's enduring Catholic identity, saying he had been comforted by the many "testimonies of faith and love for the Church" he encountered throughout the country.

Pope Leo then turned his thoughts "to the whole world and its wounds, which cause entire populations to suffer," he said.

"Let us turn our eyes to Christ Crucified," he urged, describing the Heart of Christ as "the source of mercy, which alone can save humanity."

The Pope went on to say that humanity is in need of "forgiveness and reconciliation" in order to achieve "true and lasting peace", before entrusting those who suffer to the care of the Virgin Mary.

"Let us lift up our eyes, as did Mary, the Mother of all who suffer," he said added.

Bringing his address to a close, the Pope thanked the people of Spain once more and invited them to remain united in faith.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said. "Let us remain united in prayer and in communion in Christ and in the Holy Church."

Watch the full Mass on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4B8jECKE6U

Papal Flight

Pope Leo's departure from Tenerife was delayed for a couple of hours because there was technical problem with the plane. After a farewell ceremony at the airport, the Pope and Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, along with the other cardinals and bishops accompanying the papal delegation had boarded the Iberia Airbus A320 at about 4pm but were asked to disembark soon afterwards.

Instead they flew back to the Vatican aboard an aircraft provided by King Felipe of Spain at about 6pm - returning to Rome at about 11pm scheduled to depart at around 6pm local time and is expected to arrive in Rome at approximately 11pm Rome time.

Holy See staff and the journalists travelling on the papal flight returned on a separate aircraft provided by Iberia.