Pope Leo warns of 'thieves' who rob life of joy, peace on Good Shepherd Sunday

Pope Leo XIV used his April 26 Regina Caeli address to warn Catholics about the many "thieves" that rob people of joy, freedom, and peace, challenging the faithful to guard the "gate" to their hearts.

Speaking from St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel of John's image of Jesus as both shepherd and gate of the sheepfold, drawing a contrast between the shepherd, who enters by the gate, and the thief, who "climbs in by another way."

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly," he said, citing the Gospel of John. 

Pope Leo then described what Jesus' role as shepherd actually means for believers.

"Jesus does not come as a thief to take away our life and our freedom, but to lead us along the paths of righteousness," he said. "He does not come to ensnare or deceive our conscience, but to illuminate it with the light of his wisdom. He does not come to taint our earthly joys, but to open them to a fuller and more lasting happiness."

Pope Leo then named specific "thieves" threatening modern life — "people who, regardless of appearances, suppress our freedom or fail to respect our dignity; beliefs and biases that prevent us from viewing others and life with serenity; mistaken ideas that can lead us to make negative choices; or superficial and consumeristic lifestyles that leave us empty on the inside."

He also pointed to those "who, by pillaging the earth's resources, waging blood-thirsty wars, or fueling evil in any form, do nothing but rob each of us of the possibility of a future marked by peace and serenity."

The Holy Father challenged the faithful to take stock of what they allow to shape their lives.

"We must ask ourselves: Who do we want to guide us in life? Which 'thieves' have tried to break into our fold? Have they succeeded, or have we managed to ward them off?" he said.

After the Regina Caeli prayer, he also marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, calling it "a warning regarding the inherent risks of using increasingly powerful technologies."

"I hope that discernment and responsibility will always prevail at every level of decision-making so that all use of atomic energy may be placed at the service of life and peace," he said.

Pope Leo also noted that he had ordained new priests for the Diocese of Rome earlier that morning at St. Peter's Basilica, asking the faithful to "continue to accompany these young ministers of the Gospel with your prayers."