The Weekly Leo XIV is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc., which I also cross-post on Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Leo covers material released in the last week, from 2 December 2025 to 25 December 2025.

Angelus

• 21 December 2025 – Angelus

Apostolic Letter

• 8 December 2025 – Apostolic Letter A Fidelity that generates the Futureof the Holy Father Leo XIV on the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Conciliar Decrees Optatam Totius and Presbyterorum Ordinis

General Audiences

• 20 December 2025 – Jubilee Audience – Catechesis. 11. To hope is to generate. Mary, our hope

Homilies

• 12 December 2025 – Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe – Holy Mass
• 24 December 2025 – Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
• 25 December 2025 – Solemnity of Christmas – Holy Mass during the Day

Messages

• 25 December 2025 – ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing – Christmas 2025

Speeches

• 2 December 2025 – Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon’ Press Conference during the flight to Rome (Papal Flight)
• 12 December 2025 – Christmas Concert conducted by Maestro Riccardo Muti
• 18 December 2025 – To Labor Consultants
• 19 December 2025 – To the Young People of the Italian Catholic Action
• 22 December 2025 – To Employees of the Roman Curia, the Governorate of the Vatican City State, and the Vicariate of Rome, together with their families, for the exchange of Christmas greetings
• 22 December 2025 – Christmas Greetings of the Holy Father to the Roman Curia

Social Media

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Yesterday, I was listening to the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton’s “Uncommon Sense” podcast as they were talking about gifts of gratitude and signing up for this year’s Advent reflections series via email.

The “gift” in “Gift of Gratitude” was not just another appeal to donations, giving Tuesday, etc. This time of year I receive way too many appeals from Catholic organizations that feel more grift than gift.

Today I received in the mail my “Advent with G. K. Chesterton” Calendar where each day you can write a specific gift you are thankful for.

I have heard the advice about counting your blessings and acknowledging them, especially as it is easier to count your gripes and vocalize them. Losing perspective on what is actually important. A comment was made in the video to the effect that you can’t have gratitude without humility. Like many obvious truths, I was understanding what was not obvious to me, and really oblivious to me. For example, “The Litany of Humility” has many hard truths in it; yet my reaction was to the seeming over-piety of the lines that I did not really want the grace to desire them.

Thinking about this and my reaction, I was reflecting on the connectedness between humility and gratitude. Praying that litany, I felt more like Uriah Heep in Dickens’s novel “David Copperfield” saying he is “a very umble person.” When on the podcast they referenced a “Litany of Gratitude”, that instantly connected with me. Perhaps I could grow my humility by growing my gratitude.

Another aspect I have been thinking about lately are not just the gifts I am thankful for from God, but more so some of the deprivations of gifts that I would yearn for. That not receiving them is also a gift. That so much of what I desire would not be effective for building the Kingdom of God, but for the aggrandizement of my own ego.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Co 12:9–10)

If Jesus’s power can be made perfect in my weakness, than I have plenty to offer for fuel. His grace is sufficient, so I can at least amp up my gratitude.

Chesterton’s gratitude for everything, is what has drawn me powerfully to him and his writings.

Sign up for free to Gifts of Gratitude: Advent with GK Chesterton

The Weekly Leo XIV is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc., which I also cross-post on Jimmy Akin’s blog.

This version of The Weekly Leo covers material released in the last week, from 19 November 2025 to 26 November 2025.

Angelus

• 23 November 2025 – Angelus,Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Apostolic Letter

• 19 November 2025 – Apostolic Letter issued ‘Motu Proprio’ of the Supreme Pontiff Leo XIV on the Composition and Presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
• 23 November 2025 – Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fideion the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

General Audiences

• 22 November 2025 – Jubilee Audience
• 26 November 2025 – General Audience – Cycle of Catechesis – Jubilee 2025’ Jesus Christ Our Hope. IV. The Resurrection of Christ and the challenges of the contemporary world. 6. Hoping in life in …

Homilies

• 23 November 2025 – Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – Holy Mass

Speeches

• 20 November 2025 – Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi’ Meeting with the Italian bishops at the conclusion of the 81st General Assembly of the Italian Bishops’ Conference [17–20 November 2025]
• 21 November 2025 – To the Participants in the International Course promoted by the Tribunal of the Roman Rota
• 21 November 2025 – To the Members of the Representative Council of Caritas Internationalis
• 24 November 2025 – To Participants in the General Chapter of the Servants of Mary
• 24 November 2025 – To the National Pilgrimage from Latvia

Social Media

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• instagram/Pontifex