Pope Leo XIV talks about depression and forgiveness in Barcelona

What was the Pope’s guidance for those seeking a purpose in life?

The Pope explained that the desire for happiness is a divine gift and that human beings were made for infinity. He warned that an exaggerated focus on profit, performance and one’s own image works like an ‘anesthetic’ that prevents people from seeing others and social injustices. To combat this, he suggested cultivating silence, reading the Gospel and seeking support from religious communities and leaders.

How did the pontiff address the issue of depression and suicide?

Hearing the account of a teacher who tried to take her own life, the Pope stated that mental health is under constant threat in modern societies due to unrealistic pressures and expectations. He highlighted that God does not desire suffering, but endures it together with the person. Leo XIV recommended that no one face pain alone, encouraging the search for discreet company to help get through moments of deep darkness.

What did the Pope say about finding God in suffering?

He used the figure of the cross to explain that God does not abandon people, remaining ‘crucified’ alongside those who feel pain and extreme loneliness. For the Pope, when God seems absent, it is the time to cry out and entrust the burdens of the heart to Him. He warned against the cheap ‘spiritualization’ of pain, stressing that suffering should not be minimized as if it were simply God’s will.

Is it possible to forgive serious aggressions and family traumas?

The Pope emphasized that forgiveness is a journey of small steps and not a switch. If read only as an obligation, the Gospel can cause frustration in those who feel unable to forgive. According to him, forgiveness does not necessarily mean resuming a full relationship with someone who was violent, but rather rejecting hatred and revenge, asking God to gradually transform resentment into compassion.

Who is responsible for violence in the world according to the Pope?

Asked where God would be during childhood abuse, the pontiff explained that humanity was given intelligence and freedom, and that we cannot attribute to God what is our responsibility. He asserted that violence and individualism are the fruits of social dynamics and human choices, and that these difficult questions should be directed at society’s culture, not divine negligence.