Pope Leo XIV has called on catechists to embrace humility and simplicity as the true source of Christian hope, urging them to be living witnesses of the Gospel in a world often marked by indifference and inequality.
The Pope addressed more than 20,000 catechists from 115 countries who flocked to Rome from September 26 to 28 for the Jubilee of Catechists, a three-day celebration of the Church’s frontline teachers of the faith.
Among the participants were large groups from across Asia, including the Philippines, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and East Timor, highlighting the vitality of catechetical ministry in the region.
A Call to Simplicity and Trust
During his Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope reflected on the importance of docility in faith. “Those who are docile are open to receiving God, and this openness gives them great insight into the faith,” he said. Recalling the election of Saint Ambrose of Milan as bishop even before baptism, he stressed that humility and trust in God’s grace are at the heart of every vocation.
“May this spirit of simplicity guide us as we look forward with hope to the ongoing renewal of the Church and of the world,” he told the pilgrims.
Pilgrims of Hope
The Jubilee program opened with a pilgrimage through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a prayer vigil led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella. Testimonies from catechists of Italy, Mozambique, and Mexico set the tone, echoing the journey of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
On Saturday, catechists attended a special Audience with the Pope, then broke into language groups across Rome’s churches for sessions led by bishops.
The celebration concluded with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on September 28, where Pope Leo XIV commissioned 39 new catechists, presenting each with a crucifix as a sign of their mission. Among them were lay catechists from India, the Philippines, South Korea, and East Timor, further underlining Asia’s contribution to the global Church.
Catechists as Voices of the Gospel
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV drew from the Gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus, reminding the faithful that faith without love for the poor is empty. “At the doorstep of today’s opulence stands the misery of entire peoples, ravaged by war and exploitation,” he said.
He underscored that catechists are not merely transmitters of doctrine but witnesses who embody the Gospel. “The catechist is a person of the word, a word pronounced with life itself,” he said. “When we teach the faith, we do not merely give instructions, but we place the word of life in hearts, so that it may bear the fruits of a good life.”
Quoting Saint Augustine, he reminded them: “Explain everything in such a way that the one who listens to you, by listening may believe; by believing may hope; and by hoping may love.”
A Mission for Today
The Pope thanked catechists for their service and urged them to guide others not only toward knowledge but toward a relationship with Christ. “May his love revive in all of us the hope that does not disappoint,” he told English-speaking pilgrims.
For the Asian catechists, many of whom labor in contexts of poverty, pluralism, and persecution, the Pope’s words offered both encouragement and a challenge: to continue being witnesses of hope through humble service and to carry the Jubilee spirit back to their local communities.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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