The Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Briefly Explained by Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV offered a brief explanation of the parable of the wedding banquet during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18. Speaking from the window of the papal apartment to a large crowd, the Pope addressed the Gospel reading regarding a king who prepares a feast for his son.

The Pope noted that the banquet represents the desire to share joy with everyone. He cited Saint Thomas Aquinas to explain that goodness naturally tends to spread, suggesting that good experiences create a light that encourages people to share happiness with others.

Leo XIV observed that, in the parable, guests often reject the invitation to favor their own business or even mistreat the king's messengers. He said that people may similarly fail to recognize, appreciate, or willfully misinterpret the good offered to them, but urged the faithful not to be discouraged by such rejection.