Pope warns against treating Christ as ‘a guru or a good luck charm’

Pope Leo XIV warned Catholics in Angola on Monday against reducing faith to self-interest, saying Christ must not be treated as “a guru or a good luck charm” sought only for personal advantage. Preaching at Mass in Saurimo on 20 April, the Pope used the day’s Gospel to draw a distinction between true discipleship and a merely utilitarian religion.

Speaking to a congregation estimated at around 60,000, Leo reflected on the crowd that followed Jesus after the multiplication of the loaves. “There are erroneous motives for seeking Christ, particularly when he is considered to be a guru or a good luck charm,” he said. “They were not seeking a teacher whom they love but a leader to applaud for their own advantage.”