Pope Leo XIV marked the Jubilee of Catechists in Rome on Saturday with a call for humility, hope, and authenticity in the Church’s teaching ministry.
Speaking to more than 20,000 pilgrims gathered from 115 countries, the pope encouraged catechists to pass on the faith in ways that lead others to a personal encounter with Christ.
“God reveals himself to those who are simple and humble of heart because they are open to receiving him,” he said during his catechesis, stressing that true Christian witness is rooted in childlike openness.
Recalling the story of St Ambrose, elected bishop of Milan by popular acclaim even before his baptism was complete, Leo highlighted the saint’s “docility” as a model for those called to serve the Church. “It was docility that led Ambrose to respond to that call, trusting in the grace of God,” he noted.
The Jubilee of Catechists is one of several themed events during the Holy Year 2025, which carries the theme of hope. Each celebration underscores the contribution of different vocations and ministries to the renewal of the Church and society. The weekend programme opened with a prayer vigil in St Peter’s Basilica on Friday evening and included pilgrimages through the Holy Door.
The celebrations will conclude with a Mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday morning, during which the pope will formally confer the lay ministry of catechist on 39 men and women. Among them is Catherine Miles-Flynn, an American mother of eight who has been serving the Church in the Arabian Peninsula.
In closing his address, Pope Leo urged catechists to remember the heart of their mission. “As you instruct others in the faith, keep in mind the importance of teaching them to cultivate a relationship with Jesus. May his love revive in all of us the hope that does not disappoint.”
