Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on families to play an active role in the life and mission of local Churches, encouraging them to help shape the future of the Church through their experiences, faith and participation.
In a message marking the conclusion of a meeting celebrating the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation *Amoris laetitia*, the Pope thanked the participants for sharing their experiences and listening to one another. He said their discussions were a gift to the whole Church.
The meeting took place from October 7 to 14 and brought together families and Church leaders to reflect on family life and the Church's mission. Pope Leo was unable to attend the gathering in person, but expressed his gratitude for the prayers, preparation and contributions of those involved.
The Pope also thanked the families who shared their joys, difficulties and hopes during the meeting. He acknowledged the efforts of the Heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences in preparing for the gathering and dedicating their time to the discussions.
Pope Leo said he would study the results of the meeting and offer his reflections at a later time. In the meantime, he encouraged participants to share what they had learned and experienced with their respective Bishops' Conferences and dioceses.
He also urged them to continue proclaiming the Gospel alongside families, drawing inspiration from *Amoris laetitia*, the apostolic exhortation issued by Pope Francis in 2016 on love in the family.
A central message of the Pope's address was the importance of families participating actively in the Church rather than remaining on the sidelines. He expressed his hope that families would contribute to the life and mission of their local Churches and help Church leaders discern the way forward.
As participants prepared to return to their communities, Pope Leo asked them to convey his spiritual closeness and encouragement to the people they serve.
The concluding Mass was celebrated on Wednesday morning by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Dean of the College of Cardinals, on behalf of the Pope.
Pope Leo ended his message by entrusting the participants to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth. He also asked them to pray for him, assuring them of his own prayers, and imparted his Apostolic Blessing.