Vatican City: In a message delivered on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the historic Jesuit review La Civiltà Cattolica, Pope Leo XIV called upon the publication’s writers and collaborators to embrace their mission as bearers of hope and witnesses to Christ’s presence in the world.
Addressing the editorial staff, the Holy Father highlighted the enduring responsibility of the journal, founded on April 6, 1850, by Blessed Pope Pius IX, to interpret history, politics, culture, science, and art through the lens of the Christian faith, in harmony with the teachings of the Pope and the Holy See.
“While reporting on current events, which often challenge our hope, you must remind the faithful that Christians are called to hold fast to their faith,” Pope Leo emphasized. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Spe salvi (2007), he noted, “My life and the history of the world are not left to chance. Providence does not cease… beyond all failures, I know that my life is held firm by the power of God’s love. And thus hope remains, even in the midst of shipwrecks.”
The Pope expressed his gratitude for the journal’s long-standing contribution to the Church. “Your work has contributed and continues to contribute to making the Church present in the world of culture,” he said, praising La Civiltà Cattolica as “a window on the world” capable of engaging contemporary events without shying away from their challenges and contradictions.
In his address, Pope Leo outlined three essential dimensions of the publication’s mission. First, educating readers to intelligent and active engagement in society. “What you write can help your readers better understand the complex society in which we live, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses,” he said, noting the review’s influence on discussions of social equity, family, education, technological change, and peace.
Second, the Pope underscored the importance of giving voice to the marginalized. Citing Pope Francis, he called on journalists to become “a voice of the poor and the excluded,” a responsibility rooted in the fundamental mission of every Christian. Pope Leo emphasized that authentic engagement requires humble listening and proximity to those who suffer, enabling the journal to break cycles of isolation and loneliness.
Finally, the Pope exhorted the editorial team to act as heralds of hope. “This means standing against the indifference of those insensitive to others’ needs and overcoming the discouragement of those who no longer believe in the possibility of new paths,” he explained. “For us, the ultimate hope is Christ, our way: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’ (Jn 14:6). In Him and with Him, there are no dead ends, nor obstacles that can prevent us from loving God and our brothers and sisters with trust.”
Reflecting on Pope Francis’s guidance to the journal, Pope Leo reiterated that “a journal is truly ‘Catholic’ only if it has Christ’s gaze on the world, and if it transmits and bears witness to that gaze.” He concluded, affirming that this mission perceiving, cultivating, communicating, and bearing witness to Christ’s gaze remains the cornerstone of La Civiltà Cattolica’s work in the modern era.
Through his address, Pope Leo XIV reinforced the enduring role of Catholic journalism not only as a chronicler of events but as a source of hope, moral reflection, and faithful engagement with the world.