The Healing of a Deaf Man with a Speech Impediment (General Audience)

"It is possible that within us arises the desire to turn everything off. We may come to prefer not to feel anything anymore. Even our words risk being misunderstood, and we may be tempted to close ourselves in silence, into a lack of communication where, despite our closeness, we are no longer able to say to one another the most simple and profound things.

In this regard, today I would like to reflect on a passage from the Gospel of Mark that presents us with a man who cannot speak or hear."

This speech was given by Pope Leo XIV during his weekly general audience on 30 July 2025. This is part of the cycle of catechesis on the theme “Jesus Christ our Hope”.