Pope Leo XIV calls faith transmission a “matter of great urgency,” urging Catholics to reclaim the deep joy of evangelizing in modern times.
Newsroom (29/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Addressing the plenary assembly of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV described the transmission of the faith as “a matter of great urgency in our time.” In a world marked by cultural shifts and growing secular indifference, he called on the Church to rediscover the “sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing,” the very heart of its life and mission.
Greeting members of the DDF, the Pope praised the Dicastery’s work in helping the Roman Pontiff and bishops safeguard the integrity of Catholic teaching. He emphasized its crucial role in offering pastoral and theological clarity on sensitive questions, fulfilling the mission outlined in Praedicate Evangelium: to proclaim the Gospel and deepen understanding of the deposit of faith in changing contexts.
Pope Leo expressed deep gratitude for the DDF’s recent publications, acknowledging their value for “the spiritual growth of the holy and faithful People of God.” These works, he said, offer timely guidance to bishops and theologians grappling with “new phenomena emerging on the stage of history.”
A Rupture in Generational Faith Transmission
In a tone both pastoral and urgent, Pope Leo lamented what he called a rupture in the generational transmission of faith. He noted with concern that, particularly in traditionally Christian societies, increasing numbers of people—especially the young—no longer see the Gospel as central to their lives.
“This causes believers great sorrow,” he said, “but it must lead us to rediscover the sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing.” Recalling the recent Extraordinary Consistory, he echoed calls for a missionary Church that looks outward, “proclaiming the Gospel above all through the power of attraction,” a theme repeatedly emphasized by his predecessors Benedict XVI and Francis.
Christ at the Center
Reaffirming the theological foundation of the Church’s mission, Pope Leo reminded the assembly that the Church’s true source of vitality is divine love. “It is not the Church that attracts, but Christ,” he said, explaining that any authentic Christian witness draws life from “the vital sap of Charity that springs from the Heart of the Savior.”
The Pope urged humility among believers and Church leaders alike, portraying each member as “a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.” The Church’s mission, he underlined, is to point always to Christ, never to itself.
Justice, Truth, and Charity
Pope Leo concluded by addressing one of the Dicastery’s most sensitive duties: handling cases of grave crimes reserved to its authority. He urged those responsible for such matters to act with careful discernment and compassion, ensuring that “the requirements of justice, truth, and charity are always honoured and respected.”
As he closed his address, Pope Leo XIV renewed his gratitude for the Dicastery’s service to the Church—especially when offered “in a humble and unobtrusive manner”—and bestowed his Apostolic Blessing on all present.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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