Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV delivered a heartfelt message to the Daughters of St. Paul on Thursday morning, urging the religious sisters to persevere in their apostolic mission despite the challenges of modern life. Speaking at the Vatican as the congregation gathers for its General Chapter marking 110 years since the Institute’s founding the Holy Father emphasized the enduring value of their work for both the Church and the wider world.
Addressing the sisters, who represent all five continents and numerous cultures, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the universality of their mission. “To proclaim and spread the Word, dedicating one’s life to the cause of the Gospel in the footsteps of Jesus the Master, and seeking paths, instruments, and languages so that all may know and follow the Lord this is the heart of your apostolate,” he said, invoking the tireless zeal of Saint Paul as their model.
The Pope acknowledged that the sisters operate in a rapidly changing world, one marked by complex social, cultural, and technological realities. He lauded the theme chosen for their General Chapter, “Impelled by the fire of the Spirit, listening to contemporary humanity, we communicate the Gospel of Hope,” describing it as a timely call to renew their mission.
“This is not about conveying abstract truths or generic information,” he noted. “It is about entering into concrete history, embracing the questions and anxieties stirred by real life, and speaking the languages of the women and men of our time.”
To sustain their work, the Holy Father encouraged the sisters to cultivate two essential attitudes: looking upward and immersing themselves in reality. He explained that looking upward requires openness to the Holy Spirit, recognizing that their vocation and mission flow from God, and that zeal, talent, and tools alone cannot replace divine guidance. “It is the Spirit who propels us forward, multiplying our talents, refreshing us in our labors, rekindling our hearts when the joy of the Gospel grows cold, illuminating our steps,” Pope Leo said.
The second attitude, he said, involves immersion in the lived experience of humanity. “Looking upward is not an escape,” he affirmed. “It should help us adopt the same condescension of Christ, who humbled Himself to enter the depths of wounded humanity.” Sisters are called to meet people where they are, live alongside them, and communicate hope in ways that resonate with contemporary life.
Pope Leo XIV recognized the sisters’ work across multiple fields, including publishing, digital media, bookstore management, radio, television, and biblical animation. While acknowledging the burdens and limited resources inherent in these endeavors, he encouraged perseverance and careful discernment. “Let us not be discouraged,” he said, urging them to renew their apostolate with a balanced vision and maintain fidelity to the charism of their founder, Blessed James Alberione.
He emphasized the importance of credibility and integrity, cautioning against any disconnect between preaching and daily life. Only by living authentically can the sisters uphold the unifying vision of The Way, the Truth, and the Life Mind, Will, and Heart that guides the Pauline Family.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV called on the sisters to emulate Saint Paul’s tireless joy in proclaiming Christ, even amid difficulties and persecutions. He encouraged them to let the Spirit guide their work and to bring hope to all, particularly the most vulnerable. On the Feast of the Guardian Angels, he assured the Daughters of St. Paul of his prayers and invoked the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Apostles.