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Listening, Light, and Love

January 12, 2026

(CGN089 / Shutterstock.com)

From the Office for Social Ministry

“The way in which we learn to work together, with fraternity and sincere friendship, can give rise to something new, something that brings both the present and the future into focus.”
— Pope Leo XIV, Message to Extraordinary Consistory January, 7-8, 2026

On the day after the Epiphany, Pope Leo addressed the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals with a message of hope for a better future rooted in solidarity, in a world very torn by divisive conflict. He set the tone for the consistory and the year with a simple line: “I am here to listen.” Alluding to the Christmas mystery of Emmanuel, God’s dwelling with us, our Holy Father turned to the prophet Isaiah, reminding us that the Church exists to reflect Christ’s light in places where darkness still lingers: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” He invited the Church to live a faith that builds peace by embodying the light of Christ’s love, especially with the most vulnerable.

Although the primary work of the consistory was to be reflection and dialogue, Pope Leo followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Pope Francis, by urging the Church to prioritize listening—listening to the Holy Spirit, to one another.“We are called to get to know one another and to dialogue,” Pope Leo said, “so that we may work together in serving the Church.”

It is this theme of unity and peace in the light of Christ that the Pope hopes will set the tone for 2026. On the first day of the new year, in his World Day of Peace message, he wrote: “Peace is more than a goal; it is a presence and a journey. Peace is a principle that guides and defines our choices.” He acknowledged the fragility of this peace, noting that “peace can be fragile, like a small flame threatened by the storm… it must be protected, nurtured, and carried forward.”

While many of us ushered in 2026 with celebrations, other parts of the globe entered the new year amid war, violence, and fear. At the first Angelus of the year on January 4, the Pope turned our attention to persons living in places of conflict throughout the world, including Venezuela, saying: “I follow the developments in Venezuela with deep concern… The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.” He urged an end to violence and called for a pursuit of justice and peace that respects the rule of law and human rights.

Pope Leo’s first 2026 messages invite us to consider what kind of love makes peace possible in a world marked by so much conflict. The early Christians had a word for that love: agape—the self-giving, unconditional love of Christ. Agape is concrete. It responds to suffering. It gives without calculating the return. Echoing Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on evangelization, Pope Leo reminded us: “It is not the Church that attracts, but Christ; and if a Christian or an ecclesial community attracts, it is because through that ‘channel’ flows the lifeblood of Charity that cascades from the Heart of the Savior.”

When a parish or ministry becomes a place of welcome, when the forgotten are noticed, when the hungry are fed, when the dignity of all is lifted up, it is because agape has taken root. It is how ordinary Christians become credible witnesses to God who is love. This kind of radical love has a magnetic quality. It draws people not through argument, but through compassion.

Pope Leo pointed out that division scatters—but love unites. Christ’s love, he said, “inspires us, possesses us, envelops us, and moves us outward.” Peace begins with how we see one another. But when fear replaces compassion—when people are reduced to labels such as “illegal,” “burden,” or “other”—the foundations of peace erode. The Gospel calls Christians to a different way of seeing: to recognize all as sisters and brothers, created in God’s image. Peace grows by looking through the light of agape love and being attentive to the cries of the poor and of the earth.

In Hawaiʻi, the feast of Epiphany also marked the 30th anniversary of Pūʻā Foundation, a local nonprofit whose mission of interfaith collaboration is rooted in the transforming light of living Christian agape. It was a blessing to celebrate with persons whose lives have been transformed from the shadows of darkness, addiction, and domestic violence toward paths of peace, healing, and hope—including formerly incarcerated women who have transitioned through the Diocese Mercy House. Many of them now serve their communities as mentors, peer specialists, and leaders helping others navigate the journey from trauma to transformation. The Pūʻā Foundation also pursues ʻāina-based cultural healing through the “planting seeds of hope” Punahoa Heritage Forest project, embodying Laudato Si’s “listening to the cries of the poor and earth,” attending to both soul and soil. For more on the Pūʻā Foundation, please visit www.puafoundation.org.

Pope Leo proposes a path forward to bring the present and future into focus by shared discernment, attentive listening, and daily acts of agape love: self-giving, attentive care, sharing and serving with others vulnerable. May 2026 and beyond be blessed with Christ’s light in the fragile flame of peace guiding us to become and multiply God’s seeds of hope. Mahalo.