Pope Leo: God's plans are infinitely greater than we can imagine

Source: Vatican Media

During his Angelus address to pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflected of Jesus' parable of the labourers in the vineyard and marveled that God's ways are not our ways and that His plans are infinitely greater than we could ever possibly imagine.

The Pope recalled that in the day's liturgy, through the words of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord gives us great cause for hope, telling us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, that His ways are not our ways.

Thus, Pope Leo said that the Prophet's call for us to "abandon our warped ways and return to the Lord, who is mercy and forgiveness," is more relevant than ever.

The Holy Father recalled that in the Gospel, Jesus' parables reveal the newness of what God has in store for us; yet they also reveal the resistance we generally offer to a more generous justice and greater love.

In today's Gospel reading, the Pope recalled that we hear the story of the labourers called to work in the vineyard, some of whom work for a full day, others for only a few hours, and some only as the sun was setting.

In the Parable, the Holy Father pointed out that the landowner treats the last ones in the same way as those who worked all day.

Notably, he gives the steward a specific order that the workers are to be paid "beginning with the last and then going to the first."

Pope Leo points out how easy it could have been to avoid the negative reaction of those who had worked all day. But, this he says, was done intentionally to demonstrate that the revelation of God's goodness is for everyone, not just for a few.

He reaffirmed that God has different ways and fresh ideas even for those who consider themselves to be first and believe they have earned what they have or that they deserved the results they have achieved.

"Instead," Pope Leo marvelled, "we all gain joy, wisdom and a better future when the law of love interrupts that of calculation, when the experience of mercy broadens that of merit, and when the gift of peace suspends rivalries and brings us closer together in gratitude."

While calling it "a grace" to be God's "co-workers" by "labouring" in His vineyard and serving His Kingdom, Pope Leo stressed that "there is no room for envy or division where God's newness breaks forth."

For this reason, he said, "let us seek the Lord while He may be found; let us call upon Him while He is near; let us abandon crooked paths and wicked thoughts."

Pope Leo XIV concluded by urging the faithful to look to the Blessed Mother, "a creature like us yet without blemish," who "can help us to hope in God and to entrust ourselves to His mercy, so that His ways may become our ways and his thoughts may become our thoughts."

After his reflection the Pope expressed his great concern about humanitarian crisis unfolding in Somalia, "where acts of violence and extreme weather events are exacerbating the already precarious living conditions of the population, particularly of women and children." He said he hoped the international community would be generous in their support. Pope Leo also greeted the many pilgrims present.

Read Pope Leo's full address here:
www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20260920-angelus.html

Watch the Angelus on Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri9bdc71p6k