Guwahati, March 2, 2026: Reflecting on the Gospel of the Transfiguration for the Second Sunday of Lent, Pope Leo XIV said that Christ the Redeemer transforms the wounds of history and reveals God’s saving gift to humanity.
Speaking during the Angelus, the Holy Father explained that the Transfiguration points ahead to the light of Easter. It is an event that embraces both suffering and glory, darkness and new light. The radiant Christ, he said, shines upon “all bodies scourged by violence, crucified by pain, or abandoned in misery,” offering hope in the midst of human suffering.
The Pope noted that although Peter, James, and John witnessed the splendour of Jesus on the mountain, they required time to understand what they had experienced. Such understanding, he said, comes through silence, attentive listening to the Word of God, and a sincere journey of conversion.
In the Gospel account, Jesus stands between Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. The Father’s voice is heard proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son,” while the Holy Spirit overshadows the scene in a bright cloud. Pope Leo observed that this manifestation reveals the “human splendour of God” in a humble and intimate way, not as a spectacle but as a profound encounter.
The Transfiguration, he continued, shows that even in a world marked by evil and suffering, Christ’s glory is present. The Redeemer does not ignore the wounds of history; rather, He transforms them, illuminating minds and hearts. This revelation is not merely a moment of wonder but a gift of salvation.
Inviting the faithful to personal reflection, the Pope asked whether the vision of Christ truly captivates us and whether we contemplate the face of God with wonder and love.
He concluded by affirming that God responds to human doubt and despair with the gift of His Son. In the face of unbelief, the Father offers the Saviour; amid loneliness and uncertainty, the Holy Spirit grants communion and grace; and in the weakness of faith, the promise of the resurrection is proclaimed.
The Angelus message thus offered a Lenten invitation to contemplate Christ’s glory, to trust in His saving work, and to allow His light to transform the wounds of personal and collective history.: