Pope Leo XIV highlights reading’s power to shape critical thinking, foster dialogue, and proclaim faith at Vatican Publishing House centenary.
Newsroom (07/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV underscored the enduring importance of reading as a tool for intellectual and spiritual growth during a centenary gathering with members of the Vatican Publishing House (Libreria Editrice Vaticana) on Thursday, describing books as vital instruments for cultivating critical thought and resisting ideological rigidity.
Marking 100 years of the publishing house’s independence from the Vatican Printing Press—originally founded in 1587—the Pope framed the occasion as a “family celebration,” noting that the institution has served nine pontiffs by disseminating their Magisterium worldwide as part of the Church’s evangelizing mission.
Books as a Tool for Thought
In his address, Pope Leo XIV presented reading as a necessary discipline in an increasingly digital age. He emphasized the physical and reflective nature of books as an invitation to deeper thinking.
“Reading nourishes the mind,” he said, adding that it fosters “a conscious and well-formed critical sense,” which helps guard against “fundamentalism and ideological shortcuts.”
He encouraged the habit of reading as an “antidote to closed-mindedness,” warning that intellectual rigidity often leads to reductive interpretations of reality.
Books as Bridges Between People
The Pope also described books as a means of encounter, connecting readers not only with authors but with broader communities across time.
“When we hold a book in our hands, we encounter its author in an ideal sense,” he said, extending that connection to past, present, and future readers.
Referencing Pope Francis’ emphasis on a “culture of encounter,” Pope Leo highlighted how books foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and the exchange of ideas. He noted that opportunities for interaction between writers and readers continue to grow, strengthening these connections.
Books as Instruments of Faith
Turning to the spiritual dimension, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the role of books in proclaiming Christ. He pointed to the transformative power of reading the lives of saints or spiritual reflections, which can deeply move the heart.
He also drew attention to traditional artistic depictions linking sacred figures and texts: the Virgin Mary reading Scripture in scenes of the Annunciation, Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Gospels with the Child Jesus, and Saint Augustine portrayed with a book and a heart symbolizing truth and charity.
“In the school of Mary and the Saints,” the Pope said, “let us nourish ourselves with the Word of God, so that it may shape our way of thinking and acting.”
Looking Ahead
Echoing Pope Saint Paul VI’s message during the publishing house’s fiftieth anniversary in 1976, Pope Leo encouraged continued forward-thinking in refining ideas and future initiatives.
He concluded by expressing gratitude to those involved in the publishing house’s work, praising their dedication and passion, and imparted his Apostolic Blessing.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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