On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to draw inspiration from the two patrons of Rome, men who, despite their human flaws, became remarkable witnesses to the Gospel. He also called on the newly appointed Metropolitan Archbishops, who received their pallium during the Mass, to imitate the Lord and serve as Good Shepherds to those entrusted to their care.

A Call to Build Unity

Celebrating Mass on Monday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father reminded those gathered that looking to Peter and Paul can teach Christians how to become apostles and builders of unity, generous servants of the truth in charity. The celebration included the traditional blessing and imposition of the pallium for the new archbishops, a moving rite rich with symbolism.

Two Pillars of the Church

In his homily, the Pope reflected on the patron saints of the city and Diocese of Rome. He recalled that Jesus chose Peter to shepherd His flock, while Paul was chosen as the Apostle to the Gentiles. In these two figures, he said, the Church venerates two pillars upon which it stands.

Turning first to Peter, Pope Leo recalled how the first Pope nurtured unity and communion even during seasons of division and turmoil. His example, the Pope suggested, speaks directly to the challenges the Church faces in any age.

A Saint Who Was Not Perfect

Yet the Pope was careful not to present Peter as flawless. He recalled that during the Passion, Peter denied his Master, only later weeping sincere tears of repentance. Paul himself, in different circumstances, rebuked Peter for inconsistencies in his conduct.

What set Peter apart, the Pope explained, was his ability to acknowledge his mistakes and repent without losing heart, never abandoning his mission to proclaim the Gospel and gather Christ’s flock, a mission he carried even to martyrdom not far from where the congregation was gathered.

Peter, the Pope said, ultimately embraced the task the Lord entrusted to him: to listen to the voice of each person, to discern inspirations, to guide the way, to correct errors, and to instruct, encourage, and accompany his brothers and sisters so that, open to the Spirit, they might cooperate in one another’s salvation and in the salvation of all humanity.

His example, the Pope added, invites every Christian to become a builder of unity, placing God at the center of life and drawing close to others with attentiveness to their circumstances and needs, learning to live together in charity so the Gospel message can be fully proclaimed.

How God Won the Heart of Saul

Pope Leo then turned to Paul, the tireless herald of the Good News. God, he said, accomplished something wonderful in the heart of the young Saul, winning him over, bringing him to conversion, giving him a new name, and sending him to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

Like Peter, Paul bore witness to his faith even to the point of giving his life in Rome. The Apostle to the Gentiles, the Pope observed, allowed himself to be transformed by the power of God’s word, which rescued him from a path of violence and set him on the path of love.

Drawing on Saint Augustine’s reflection on Paul’s conversion, the Pope recalled how God took the persecutor of the Church and made him a messenger of peace, forgiving all his sins and entrusting him with a ministry in which he could forgive the sins of others.

The Meaning of the Pallium

Looking to these two saints, the Pope said, teaches the faithful how to promote unity and serve the truth in charity. It was in that spirit that the ancient and moving rite of conferring the pallia on the Metropolitan Archbishops took place.

He explained the symbolism of the bands of white wool adorned with crosses, describing how they express the commitment of every shepherd, and indeed every Christian, to take upon their shoulders the brothers and sisters entrusted to them, like lambs of the Lord’s flock, and to sacrifice their energy, time, effort, and even their lives for them. At the heart of this selflessness, he said, lies the desire that the Gospel may reach everyone and that the whole world may find in it harmony and concord.

A Gesture Toward Christian Unity

In keeping with these sentiments, Pope Leo warmly greeted the members of the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople who were present, a gesture reflecting the ongoing pursuit of unity among Christians.

A Final Prayer

The Holy Father closed by inviting all present to pray to Saints Peter and Paul, asking that they sustain the faithful on their journey of communion in the footsteps of the Savior. This, he concluded, is the path the Lord has laid out, the very unity for which He prayed to the Father at the Last Supper, and the goal toward which He has taught His followers to aspire with confident hope.

In lifting up two imperfect men who became extraordinary witnesses, Pope Leo XIV offered both the new archbishops and the wider Church a reminder that holiness is not the absence of failure, but the willingness to rise, repent, and continue serving with love.