Pope Leo XIV teaches on Dei Verbum, emphasizing Sacred Scripture as the living Word shaping the faith, mission, and dialogue of the Church.
Newsroom (11/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) At the February 11 General Audience in the Vatican’s Audience Hall, Pope Leo XIV delivered a catechesis centered on The Documents of Vatican Council II—specifically, the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum—reflecting on the Word of God in the life of the Church. His address explored the profound and dynamic union between Scripture and the Church, a theme that continues to shape Catholic theology and spirituality in the post-conciliar era.
“The Church,” the Pope began, “is the rightful home of Sacred Scripture.” Arising from the People of God under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is entrusted to that same people for the nourishment of faith. Within the ecclesial community, Scripture finds its natural habitat, where its meaning can be revealed and its divine power made manifest.
Scripture and the Church: One Living Reality
Recalling Chapter Six of Dei Verbum, Pope Leo noted that the Church venerates the divine Scriptures as she venerates the Body of Christ. This veneration is expressed most fully in the liturgy, where the faithful receive “the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body.” For the Church, Scripture and sacred tradition together form “the supreme rule of faith,” sustaining her doctrine and mission through the centuries.
The Holy Father highlighted the Council’s enduring relevance, referring to the 2008 Synod of Bishops on The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. The fruits of that synod, gathered by Pope Benedict XVI in the apostolic exhortation Verbum Domini, reinforced the intrinsic link between Scripture, faith, and the Church’s interpretive tradition. “Authentic biblical understanding,” the Pope quoted, “can only be had within the faith of the Church,” which finds its living model in Mary’s fiat.
The Dialogue of Revelation
For Pope Leo, Scripture is not merely a text to be studied, but a voice to be heard. “Revelation,” he said, “is a dialogue in which God speaks to humanity as friends.” Quoting Saint Jerome’s timeless assertion—ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ—he urged all believers to approach the Bible in prayer, allowing it to become a living conversation with God.
When read with reverence and faith, the Scriptures open the heart to encounter Christ, the living Word made flesh. This encounter transforms prayer into relationship, knowledge into communion, and study into discipleship. It is here, in this sacred exchange, that divine revelation fulfills its purpose—to draw every person into God’s friendship and truth.
The Power of the Word in Ecclesial Life
The Pope emphasized that Scripture “sustains and invigorates the Christian community.” Entrusted to the care of the Church, it nourishes believers through the Eucharist and the sacraments, animates theology, and inspires pastoral ministry. Bishops, priests, deacons, and catechists, he reminded, must all be guided by a living love for the Word of God.
He also praised the work of biblical scholars and theologians, whose study deepens the faithful’s understanding of the Word, helping reveal its inexhaustible richness. Theology itself, he said, finds its “foundation and soul” in the Word of God.
But Scripture is not confined within the Church—it continuously sends her forth. The Pope observed that while the modern world is filled with countless words, many lack substance or meaning. Only the Word of God “responds to our thirst for the truth of life.” It is unique in being ever new, ever alive, and unfailing in its capacity to reveal the mystery of God.
Christ, the Living Word
Pope Leo concluded his catechesis with a central proclamation of Christian faith: Scripture leads always to Christ. Every word of the Bible converges upon the one eternal Word—the Son of the Father, Incarnate for humanity’s salvation. “Christ,” he affirmed, “is the living Word of the Father, the Word of God made man. All the Scriptures proclaim his person and his saving presence.”
Inviting the faithful to imitate Mary, Mother of the Church, the Holy Father called on them to open their hearts and minds to this divine gift. In encountering the Scriptures, believers encounter Christ Himself—and through Him enter into communion with the God who speaks.
A Lenten Call to Renewal
Before concluding, Pope Leo greeted English-speaking pilgrims from England, the Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, and the United States. He reminded them that next week marks the beginning of Lent—a season for deepening faith through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
“It is a time,” he said, “for examining our hearts and our lives, as well as refocusing our gaze on Jesus and his love for us.” The Pope prayed that these days of penitence might renew the faithful’s strength to follow Christ daily, invoking “the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ” upon all present.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican.va
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