Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called upon women religious to deepen their mission as “witnesses and prophets of hope,” highlighting their role in strengthening families and radiating the virtues of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The Pope was addressing participants of the General Chapters of four female religious Institutes the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Daughters of Nazareth Institute, the Apostles of the Holy Family Institute, and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary, known also as the Sisters of Good Counsel who gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Hope.
In his message, Pope Leo described the gathering as a “gift for the Church and for your Congregations,” and praised the superiors and members for carrying forward the spiritual heritage of their founders. “You bear within you the gift of the Spirit that once inspired your Foundresses and Founders,” he said. “Through your lives and service, you make present the enduring faithfulness of God and the hope of good things yet to come.”
The Holy Father underlined that religious life, marked by fidelity and perseverance, is a prophetic sign in a world often overwhelmed by discouragement.
Reflecting on the charisms of the four Institutes, Pope Leo recalled their roots in the inspiration of figures such as Josep Manyanet, María Encarnación Colomina, Maria Luigia Angelica Clarac, Giuseppe Guarino, Carmela Auteri, Teresa Ferrara, and Agostino di Montefeltro. He noted the Franciscan and Salesian influences that shaped their spirituality, united by a single thread: the desire to embody and transmit the values of the Holy Family.
“Nazareth was a school of prayer, love, and holiness,” the Pope said, emphasizing that its virtues remain urgently needed today. Quoting Saint Paul VI’s 1964 pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he stressed the family’s sacred role as a “communion of love” and a cornerstone of society.
Pope Leo XIV urged the sisters to strengthen their commitment to families through prayer, example, and social action. “Families today need support more than ever,” he remarked. “Your witness can make the virtues of the Holy Family come alive in our homes, guiding them with faith, charity, and simplicity.”
He encouraged the Institutes to remain close to the people they serve, by “being family” themselves listening, advising, and assisting with compassion and presence.
Concluding his address, the Pope expressed gratitude for the sisters’ global witness and entrusted their mission to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. He affirmed their vocation as a sign of light and hope for the Church and the world.