(LifeSiteNews) — During the Angelus address given on Sunday from his summer home of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of not trying to “cheat death,” but to focus on serving each other to gain eternal life.
“In order to live eternally, we do not need to cheat death, but to serve life, by caring for others in this, our time together,” Pope Leo stated.
“That is the supreme law that is prior to all society’s rules and gives them their meaning.”
The address comes on the same weekend as the beatification of the martyr, Lycarion May, a friar of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools. Brother May was a religious professor living in Spain during the Tragic Week of 1909, a period of violent anti-clerical unrest.
On July 27 of that year, Brother May was betrayed by a political rival and shot in the street because of his role as a member of the clergy. Pope Leo spoke of the beatification later in the address.
“Yesterday, in Barcelona, Lycarion May, a friar of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools, who was killed in 1909 out of hatred for the faith, was beatified.”
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The pope continued, “In hostile circumstances, he lived his educational and pastoral mission with dedication and courage. May the heroic witness of this martyr be an inspiration to all of us, especially those who work for the education of young people.”
During the beatification ceremony, the Marist Brothers expressed profound joy at the recognition of one of their own.
“The beatification of Brother Lycarion is much more than a liturgical recognition. It is a proclamation of a simple and dedicated life, lived with humility, closeness and unconditional love for the most vulnerable children and young people,” said Brother Gabriel Villa-Real, Provincial of the Hermitage and the District of West Central Europe.
“It is also a sign of hope for all those who believe in education as a path to social and spiritual transformation.”
Pope Leo concluded by calling on the faithful to look to Jesus as the ultimate example of unconditional love, a love that transcends even death.
“Brothers and sisters, let us look to Jesus!” the pontiff exclaimed. “He shows us the meaning of authentic love for God and for others. It is a love that is generous, not possessive; a love that forgives without question; a love that reaches out and never abandons others.”
