Vatican City: During a seminar titled “Evangelizing with the Families of Today and Tomorrow,” Pope Leo XIV extended a heartfelt invitation to all members of the Church—both clergy and laypeople—to become “fishers of families,” encouraging them to foster encounters with God through outreach and witness.

In a world increasingly drawn to spirituality yet distanced from organized religion, the Pope emphasized the need for the Church to remain perceptive and courageous in facing today’s spiritual challenges. “We must be vigilant and nurturing,” he stated, “recognizing the longing for faith that exists in every human heart.”

In his message, the Pope highlighted the importance of reaching out to families who feel estranged from the Church—those who, due to hurt, neglect, or misunderstanding, feel disconnected from the Christian community. Despite their distance, he noted, many of these families still long to belong.

“How many of them,” he asked, “have simply never heard the call to encounter the living God?”

He lamented the growing trend of treating faith as a private matter, which, he warned, isolates individuals and deprives them of the Church’s communal strength and spiritual richness. This isolation, he cautioned, is often deepened by modern media’s promotion of superficial ideals that offer temporary satisfaction but no lasting fulfillment.

In contrast, the Pope portrayed the Church as a lifeboat in turbulent waters—a community charged with drawing people out of the depths and bringing them into the light of Christ. “Faith,” he said, “is not merely a doctrine or code of conduct. It is a personal encounter with Christ’s love.”

Pope Leo acknowledged that Christianity has too often been reduced to a rigid system of rules, rather than presented as the joyful and transformative relationship it truly is. He stressed that it is not only the duty of bishops to evangelize families but a shared responsibility for all believers.

He urged laypeople to join this mission wholeheartedly—to reach out to couples, youth, and individuals of all walks of life, guiding them toward a meaningful relationship with Jesus. “I implore you,” he said, “to help seek out those who’ve fallen away, to walk with them patiently, and to help them rediscover the faith. In doing so, they too may become ‘fishers’ of others.”

Encouraging openness to fresh perspectives and innovative pastoral approaches, the Pope called for renewed creativity in responding to the spiritual needs of emerging generations. He concluded by thanking those engaged in this mission and praying that the Holy Spirit would illuminate their path, inspiring new efforts to renew the Church’s ministry to families.