Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics around the world to make a conscious choice between serving God or money, and between justice or injustice, as the Church marks the opening of the Jubilees of Migrants and the Missionary World.
Addressing more than 40,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, the pontiff urged the faithful to use the blessings and resources entrusted to them by God to build a more equitable and compassionate world.
“In order to start everything afresh, the Jubilee also opens up the hope of a different distribution of wealth — the possibility that the Earth belongs to everyone, because in reality, this is not the case,” Pope Leo said.
The Pope explained that the Jubilee year is not only a moment for spiritual renewal, but also a time to reflect deeply on human responsibility, social justice, and solidarity with the vulnerable.
“In this year, we must choose whom to serve justice or injustice, God or money. To hope is to choose. The world changes if we change,” he added, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
The Jubilees of Migrants and the Missionary World, a special event in the Catholic calendar, celebrates the Church’s universal mission and recognizes the struggles, resilience, and faith of migrants and missionaries across the globe.
Among the thousands in attendance was Regina Ubiaco, a Nigerian-born Catholic living in Italy, who expressed her joy at being part of the celebration.
“We are happy to be here with the Pope one of our own,” Ubiaco said. “Because in reality, he too is a migrant, though from another part of the world. This day gives us a shared sense of belonging and unity.”
She added that migrants from across Italy had travelled to the Vatican to celebrate the day and receive the Pope’s blessing, describing the moment as deeply emotional and unifying.
During his Sunday homily, Pope Leo XIV revisited the theme of migration, reminding the faithful of their Christian duty to welcome, support, and protect migrants fleeing war, poverty, and persecution.
His remarks come just days after the US-born pontiff publicly criticised President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, saying such measures contradict the Church’s call to compassion and human dignity.
The Pope’s message has been widely interpreted as a moral appeal for global solidarity, urging governments, communities, and individuals to share resources more fairly and extend mercy to those on society’s margins.
