Pope Leo explains why Vatican II’s reform did not change only ‘the rites’ of the liturgy

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV emphasized the central role of the liturgy in the Church, describing it as the space and time where the Church receives its life from Christ and where the work of redemption is accomplished.
• He inaugurated a new catechesis series on the Second Vatican Council's constitution on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, highlighting its shift from focusing solely on the sacrificial aspect to centering on Christ’s paschal mystery made present in every celebration.
• The pope stressed that Vatican II aimed not only to reform liturgical rites but also to deepen the Church’s spiritual bond with Christ, who is present in the word, sacraments, ministers, community, and especially the Eucharist.
• Leo XIV called the liturgy the summit of the Church’s activity and a source of its power, underscoring its missionary and universal dimension as a sign of unity for all humanity in Christ.
• During the general audience, Pope Leo XIV welcomed His Holiness Aram I of the Armenian Church, viewing the visit as a significant step toward fostering unity and full communion between their churches.