Vatican City: St. Peter’s Square came alive on Saturday as Pope Leo XIV held a special Jubilee Audience during the Jubilee of Catechists, drawing thousands of participants from across the world. The Pope used the occasion to reflect on the sensus fidei the deep, instinctive faith of ordinary believers which he described as the force that propels the Church forward along new and hopeful paths.
In his catechesis, Pope Leo spoke movingly about the unique intuition of the faithful, calling it a “sixth sense for the things of God.” He stressed that God reveals Himself to the humble and the simple, and that the collective faith of the People of God carries its own infallibility. This sensus fidei, he explained, is not separate from the infallibility of the Pope but is rather expressed and served by it.
“God is simple and reveals Himself to the simple,” the Pope said, noting that the strength of the Church often lies not in its intellectual debates but in the faith-filled hearts of its people.
To illustrate his point, Pope Leo drew on the example of St. Ambrose of Milan, a civil governor in the 4th century who was unexpectedly chosen as bishop by popular acclamation. Ambrose, who at the time was not even baptized but merely a catechumen, initially resisted the call, even fleeing from the people’s demand. Yet, perceiving the hand of God in this moment, he accepted baptism and ordination, eventually becoming one of the Church’s most influential bishops and a Doctor of the Church.
The Pope highlighted how this remarkable episode demonstrates the wisdom and intuition of the faithful. A child’s spontaneous cry “Ambrose bishop!” was enough to set in motion a decision that changed the course of Church history.
Pope Leo reminded the catechists and faithful gathered that every Christian is called to live out their vocation, whether as parents, teachers, workers, entrepreneurs, priests, or religious. The sensus fidei, he said, allows people to recognize whether someone is truly walking in their Christian vocation.
“This is a grace we must pray for,” the Pope added. “To live as Christians while carrying out the call we have received is the most authentic witness we can offer.”
The Holy Father also reflected on how St. Ambrose’s faith and creativity enriched the life of the Church. From new forms of liturgical music and preaching to his role in the conversion of St. Augustine, Ambrose’s openness to the Spirit multiplied hope within the Christian community.
“To perceive, to intuit, is a way of hoping,” Pope Leo said. “This instinct of the little ones allows us to recognize the Kingdom of God that is coming.”
Concluding his catechesis, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to embrace the simplicity of the Gospel and to allow the instinctive faith of God’s people to shape the Church’s journey.
“God shows His Church new paths through the faith of the simple,” he affirmed. “May this Jubilee help us to become little ones according to the Gospel, so that we may perceive and serve God’s dreams for humanity.”
The Pope’s message resonated deeply with catechists who had gathered for the Jubilee, offering encouragement and inspiration for their mission of passing on the faith to new generations across the globe.