Illustration: The Water of Life Discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well by Angelika Kauffmann, 17th–18th century
Pope Leo’s Angelus Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Lent
St Peter’s Square – 8 March 2026
Pope Leo’s Angelus Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters,
Since the first centuries of the Church’s history, the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, the healing of the man born blind and the resurrection of Lazarus have illuminated the path of those who will receive baptism and begin a new life at Easter.
Beginning this Sunday, we will read these great Gospel passages to help the catechumens on their journey to becoming Christians.
At the same time, the entire community of believers hears these passages once again to help them become more authentic and joyful Christians.
Indeed, Jesus is the answer to our thirst.
As he suggested to the Samaritan woman, the encounter with him stirs “a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” within each person (John 4:14 – whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” ).
How many people in the entire world are searching even today for this spiritual spring!
The young Etty Hillesum has written in her diary; “Sometimes I am there too but more often stones and grit block the well, and God is buried beneath. Then he must be dug out again.”
Dear friends, there is no energy better spent than that dedicated to freeing our hearts. For this reason, Lent is a gift.
We are now starting the third week and we are able to intensify our journey!
The Gospel also says: “His disciples came [and] they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman” (John 4:27 – Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, “What do you wish?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”).
They are reluctant to accept his mission as their own, so the Master has to prompt them: “Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting” (John 4:35).
The Lord still says to his church: “Lift up your eyes and recognize God’s surprises!”
In the fields, four months prior to the harvest, one sees practically nothing.
But where we see nothing, grace is already at work and its fruits are ready to be gathered.
The harvest is bountiful, but perhaps the workers are few because they are distracted by other activities.
Jesus, on the other hand, is attentive.
According to custom, he should have ignored the Samaritan woman; but Jesus speaks with her, listens to her, and showed her respect without a hidden agenda and disdain.
How many people seek this same sensitivity and availability in the Church!
It is beautiful when we lose track of time to pay attention to the person we are with, as we see in this passage of scripture.
Jesus was so spiritually nourished by God’s desire to connect with people on a deep level that he forgot to eat (John 4:34).
Thus, the Samaritan woman became the first of many female evangelizers.
Because of her testimony, many from her despised and rejected village came to meet Jesus, and faith bubbled forth in them as well.
Sisters and brothers, today let us ask Mary, Mother of the Church, to to help us serve those thirsting for truth and justice, like Jesus did.
Now is not the time for opposition between churches, or between “us” and “them.” Those who worship God seek to be people of peace who worship him in spirit and in truth ( John 4:23-24 – the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”).
