Vatican City - Pope Francis encouraged catechists to never get tired of their ministry, to avoid a 'school lecture' type catechesis, and to strive to offer a "living experience of the faith that each of us wishes to pass on to the new generations."

Greeting the participants gathered at the Vatican for the Third International Congress on Catechesis, organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization, Pope Francis expressed his joy in meeting with them and paid tribute to their international diversity.

At this time, offering catechesis is challenging work, he admitted, since it involves finding the best ways to communicate the faith to different age groups and walks of life.

The key, he noted, is the interpersonal encounter that "opens the heart" to hear the Gospel and accept the invitation to live and grow in Christian life. The new Directory for Catechesis distributed recently will offer helpful guidance, the Pope mentioned, especially in how to renew catechesis in dioceses and parishes.

The Pope stressed the very important role catechists play in the Church, calling them "a sign of the Church's responsibility to so many people: children, young people and adults who wish to make a journey of faith." He explained that he instituted the ministry of Catechist knowing the great role it can play in the Christian community.

The theme of this third International Congress is precisely, "The Catechist, witness of the new life in Christ," focusing on the third part of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Pope recalled. He noted, in particular, what the Catechism has to say about truly being witnesses to this new life.

“When we believe in Jesus Christ, partake of His mysteries, and keep His commandments, the Savior Himself comes to love, in us, His Father and His brethren, our Father and our brethren. His person becomes, through the Spirit, the living and interior rule of our activity. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2074)”

This is why Jesus gave us the commandment "that you love one another as I have loved you", the Pope said, since true love comes from God and Jesus revealed by the mystery of His presence among us, His preaching, miracles, and especially His death and resurrection.

In conclusion, the Pope reminded the catechists that they are "called to make visible and tangible the person of Jesus Christ, who loves each one of you," guiding our lives and helping us discern our moral actions.