In a compelling interview with Vatican Media, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, emphasized the urgent need for families to become the cornerstone of faith transmission across Europe. Speaking after his meeting with Pope Leo XIV and the Presidency of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), the Archbishop highlighted two central concerns: the call for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and the growing spiritual hunger among young people.
Archbishop Auza underscored that the heart of Europe's spiritual challenge lies not in a lack of interest among youth, but in a breakdown in the transmission of faith within families. “Many parents no longer speak about God, no longer bring their children to church,” he said. This vacuum, he warned, risks deepening unless families reclaim their role as the first teachers of faith.
He described the process not as a formal teaching, but as something more organic—“like osmosis,” he said. “When a family lives the faith together, it naturally absorbs into the hearts of its members.” The Archbishop warned against cultural trends that discourage early religious education, including moves to delay baptism or restrict religious instruction until adulthood.
Contrary to popular belief, Archbishop Auza asserted that young people are not disinterested in religion. “The Holy Father told us clearly: there is a thirst among the young for meaning, for God, for faith.” He referenced rising numbers of baptisms and catechism enrollment in some regions as signs of a quiet revival.
COMECE Vice-President Archbishop Antoine Hérouard echoed this sentiment during the Vatican meeting, citing his own experiences of increasing youth engagement in the Church. Pope Leo XIV himself reaffirmed the need to reject narratives that paint younger generations as spiritually indifferent.
While faith was a central topic, peace was another major focus of the discussion. Archbishop Auza said the Pope expressed deep concern over rising military expenditures, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine. “Peace cannot be achieved by sacrificing care for the vulnerable,” Auza warned, stressing that moral leadership must prioritize diplomacy and humanitarian support over militarism.
Having just assumed his role in Brussels, Archbishop Auza described his immediate trip to Rome as “providential.” His extensive diplomatic background, including as the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN and as Nuncio to Spain and Andorra, brings him a unique perspective on Europe’s moral and political crossroads.
Archbishop Auza concluded by reiterating that the renewal of the Church in Europe hinges on the family. “If the faith is not lived and breathed within the home, there is no foundation to build on. More than parishes or schools, it is the family that carries the Gospel forward generation to generation.”
In a continent often described as post-Christian, Archbishop Auza’s words serve as both a challenge and a hope: that amidst war and secularism, the flame of faith can be rekindled, one household at a time.