Pope Leo XIV has urged women and men religious to strengthen communion, embrace the diversity of their charisms and help young people discern their vocation as they confront what he called the “globalization of indifference and of powerlessness.”
The Pope made the appeal in a video message to the 2026 Annual Assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) in the United States, which is marking the 70th anniversary of its founding.
According to Vatican News, the assembly brings together women religious from different congregations under the theme “Many Charisms, One Spirit, One Call.”
In his message, Pope Leo highlighted the beauty of different religious communities, histories, missions and charisms working together to make “the mission and mystery of the Church visible in our world.”
He emphasized the importance of fostering unity within and among religious institutes, particularly in a synodal Church in which each person contributes according to his or her charism and ministry.
“All Christians are called to be builders of Christ’s communion, formed in a synodal Church in which everyone cooperates in the same mission according to their own charism and ministry,” the Pope said, as reported by Vatican News.
Pope Leo also described religious communities as having a particular experience of synodality through their life together. He encouraged participants to discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit regarding the future of consecrated life.
The Pope expressed gratitude for the contribution of religious institutes to evangelization, education and service to the poor.
The different charisms given by the Holy Spirit throughout the history of the Church, he said, enable consecrated people to make the Church’s mission visible in society.
“The Church needs you and all of the diversity and richness of the forms of consecration and ministry that you represent,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News.
He encouraged religious communities to draw strength from their vitality and their witness to lives centered on Jesus Christ.
Such witness, he said, can help confront the “globalization of indifference and of powerlessness” with Christ’s love and mercy.
Pope Leo also highlighted the importance of fostering vocations to consecrated life, particularly by accompanying young people.
Despite increasing secularization, he said there remains a “growing hunger for God.” Many young people, he noted, are rediscovering their faith after having drifted away from it.
The Pope encouraged women religious to strengthen their engagement with young people and introduce them to the beauty of consecrated life.
He urged participants to help young people “hear the voice of the Lord, who speaks to us in the depths of our hearts” and to encourage them to respond courageously to God’s call.
Pope Leo concluded by wishing the assembly a fruitful gathering and assuring participants of his prayers. He entrusted their work and the communities they represent to the intercession and protection of Mary.
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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