Vatican City: In a pivotal address to the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) in the Vatican's Hall of Blessings, Pope Leo XIV laid out a profound mandate for the Church in Italy: to rekindle and transmit the Christian faith with an unwavering focus on Jesus Christ, while simultaneously acting as fervent architects of peace and guardians of human dignity in a fractured world. His Holiness called for renewed collegiality, courageous pastoral action, and the empowerment of the laity to meet the complex challenges of the contemporary era.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the paramount need for "a renewed impulse to proclaim and transmit the faith," firmly asserting that this mission necessitates "placing Jesus Christ at the center." Echoing the spirit of the late Pope Francis' Evangelii gaudium, His Holiness urged the bishops to guide people into a "personal relationship with the Lord," unlocking the profound "joy of the Gospel." In a fragmented age, the Holy Father stressed the imperative of returning "to the foundations of our faith, to the kerygma," envisioning this as the primary commitment that fuels all others: "bringing Christ 'into the veins' of humanity" through a renewed apostolic mission. He invited Italian prelates to creatively discern methods to disseminate the Good News, employing "pastoral actions capable of reaching those who are furthest away" and "suitable tools for renewing catechesis and the language of proclamation."
A significant portion of the Pope's message revolved around peace. He underscored that a deep relationship with Christ compels the Church to foster "pastoral attention to the theme of peace." "The Lord sends us into the world to bring His very gift: 'Peace be with you!'—and to become its artisans in the places of daily life," the Pope affirmed, envisioning parishes, neighborhoods, and even the "urban and existential peripheries" as fertile ground for this endeavor. Where human and social bonds fray and "conflict arises, even subtly," Pope Leo urged the visible manifestation of a "Church of reconciliation." He stressed that peace is "not a spiritual utopia" but a "humble path, made of daily actions."
Pope Leo called upon the Italian Bishops to cultivate robust collegiality amongst themselves and with the Successor of Peter, emphasizing that the CEI itself serves as a crucial "place of dialogue and synthesis of the Bishops' thought regarding the most important issues for the common good." He encouraged reflection on the principle of communion through seamless cooperation with civil authorities, highlighting the Church's role in contributing to the broader societal welfare.
Acknowledging the enduring vibrancy of the Church in Italy, a reality previously noted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, Pope Leo XIV nonetheless lamented the "new challenges" confronting the Christian community. These include the pervasive influence of secularism, a discernible disaffection with faith, and the ongoing demographic crisis. Moreover, His Holiness pointed to complex contemporary issues that "call into question the respect for the dignity of the human person," such as the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, the data economy, and social media.
He warned that in this evolving landscape, "the dignity of the human being risks being flattened or forgotten, replaced by functions, automatisms, simulations," firmly reminding that "the person is not a system of algorithms: he or she is a creature, a relationship, a mystery." He articulated his hope that the Italian Church's journey would integrate a "living reflection on the human being" as an "essential instrument of pastoral discernment," cautioning that "without" this, "ethics is reduced to a code, and faith risks becoming disembodied."
A key facet of the Pope's vision is the active involvement of the lay faithful. He urged the bishops to ensure that lay individuals, "nourished by the Word of God and formed in the Social Doctrine of the Church, may be the protagonists" of evangelization. This includes their vital presence and witness in diverse spheres: workplaces, schools, hospitals, social and cultural settings, the economy, and the political arena.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV exhorted the bishops to "advance in unity," embracing tomorrow with serenity and fearlessly making courageous choices. He affirmed their unbreakable mission: "No one can prevent you from being close to the people, from sharing life, from walking with the least, from serving the poor." Most powerfully, he underscored: "No one can stop you from proclaiming the Gospel—and it is the Gospel that we are sent to bring, because this is what everyone—ourselves first of all—needs in order to live well and to be happy." He concluded by entrusting the Italian Bishops to the protective embrace of the Blessed Mother, invoked through her titles of Our Lady of Loreto, Pompeii, and the myriad shrines across Italy.