Pope Leo XIV urges consecrated women to be signs of hope and prophecy, renewing their service to families and transmitting the virtues of the Holy Family.
Newsroom (25/08/2025, Gaudium Press) In a heartfelt address on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV met with members of four female religious congregations—the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Daughters of Nazareth Institute, the Apostles of the Holy Family Institute, and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary, known as “of Good Counsel”—who gathered in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope. The Holy Father emphasized the profound significance of their assemblies, describing them as “a gift for the Church and for your Congregations,” while warmly greeting the Superiors General and all participants.
Bearers of Charismatic Grace
The Pope underscored the enduring legacy of the charisms bestowed upon the founders of these institutes, noting their role as “witnesses of hope” in a world yearning for divine promise. “You bring the charismatic gift that the Paraclete once bestowed upon your Foundresses and Founders, a gift that continues to be renewed,” he said. He praised their fidelity to God’s call, often through trials, as a living testament to the providential presence of the Lord. “You are called to be a sign and a prophecy of the good things yet to come,” he added, urging the sisters to embody hope in their mission.
The Holy Family as a Model
Reflecting on the shared mission of the four institutes, Pope Leo highlighted their common devotion to the Holy Family of Nazareth, describing it as “the hearth of prayer, forge of love, and model of holiness.” He paid tribute to their founders—Josep Manyanet, María Encarnación Colomina, Maria Luigia Angelica Clarac, Giuseppe Guarino, Carmela Auteri, Teresa Ferrara, and Agostino di Montefeltro—whose courage and Franciscan and Salesian inspirations shaped their congregations.
Quoting Saint Paul VI’s 1964 reflection during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Pope recalled the timeless importance of the family: “Its communion of love, its simple and austere beauty, its sacred and inviolable character, its gentle pedagogy, and its natural and irreplaceable role in society.” These qualities, he noted, remain vital in today’s world, where families face unprecedented challenges.
A Call to Support Families
Pope Leo urged the sisters to renew their commitment to nurturing families through prayer, example, and active service. “More than ever, the family needs to be supported, promoted, and encouraged,” he said. He encouraged the religious to draw on their institutes’ rich histories of service, fostering the virtues of the Holy Family in homes worldwide. “Your charismatic witness and your work as consecrated women can accomplish much,” he affirmed, calling them to remain close to those they serve through prayer, listening, counsel, and practical assistance.
Gratitude and Entrustment
In closing, the Holy Father expressed gratitude for the sisters’ global witness, entrusting them to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. “Continue the works entrusted to you by ‘being family’ and by remaining close to those you serve,” he said, encouraging them to cultivate the spirit of Nazareth in every context of their mission.
The address, delivered with pastoral warmth, reaffirmed the Church’s deep appreciation for the consecrated life and its vital role in upholding the sanctity of the family as a cornerstone of faith and society.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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