Many people took time off work and others dedicated themselves full-time for several months to prepare for his arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of you gave what you could, offering your heart, hands, ideas, talents and smiles,\u201d he said. \u201cMay God reward you as only He knows how!\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Leo then encouraged Christians everywhere to \u201cbring the leaven of selflessness to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recalling Jesus\u2019 parable of the yeast, he said the generosity of volunteers shows that Christians know how to leaven the dough of society with their care for others.<\/p>\n
\u201cSelflessness is like leaven that makes the human, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of a society grow, and it is a distinctive element of the \u2018City of God\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In our world filled with self-interest and the search for profit, Christians must think and live in a way that leads to integral human development, even if it means doing good for those who have no way to pay us back.<\/p>\n
Jesus, he said, brings the kingdom of heaven into our world like a leaven, healing our ailing humanity with His sacrifice and the fire of His Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter His death and resurrection,\u201d said the Pope, \u201cHe sent His disciples, with the power of the same Spirit, to be signs and instruments of His kingdom of love, justice and peace in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christians spread the kingdom of God through our preaching, but especially through our way of life that conforms to the Gospel.<\/p>\n
Pope Leo XIV thanked the volunteers again for their generosity, saying their work imbued with the love of God has helped Madrid grow closer to the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is all His grace!\u201d said the Pope. \u201cThis is the secret: the love of God, which moves the sun and the stars, also moves the hearts of those who have encountered \u2018the Lord Jesus, for He Himself said, \u2018It is more blessed to give than to receive\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
In conclusion, Pope Leo encouraged the volunteers who prepared his visit to spread their experience in these days into their daily lives with humility, firmness of faith, and generosity in service.<\/p>\n