The Pontiff emphasized the importance of reading “the signs of the times” with the same courage and discernment as their founders
Newsroom (18/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV has called on members of religious institutes to remain anchored in their founding charisms while staying attuned to the evolving needs of the modern world. Speaking to representatives of the Marist Missionaries, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and Ursulines of Mary Immaculate gathered in Rome for their respective chapters and assemblies, the Pontiff emphasized the importance of reading “the signs of the times” with the same courage and discernment as their founders.
In a heartfelt address, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the legacy of the institutes’ founders, who “successfully interpreted the signs of the times and responded wisely to new needs.” He urged the religious to emulate this openness to the Holy Spirit, which enabled their predecessors to address the challenges of their eras with bold and innovative action.
Community, Obedience, and Openness
The Pope highlighted three pillars of religious life: community, obedience, and attentiveness to contemporary needs. “Your history is a splendid and varied testimony,” he said, “reflecting the multiplicity of gifts bestowed by God on founders and foundresses who, in openness to the working of the Holy Spirit, successfully interpreted the signs of the times.”
He cited historical examples, including Brigida di Gesù Morello, who in the 17th century championed women’s dignity, and Saint Gaspare del Bufalo, who countered the “spirit of impiety and irreligion” of his time. The Pope also referenced Father Jean-Claude Colin, whose Marist apostolate was inspired by the humility of Mary of Nazareth, and the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, founded in the 1990s in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
Responding to Today’s Needs
Pope Leo stressed that this same perceptive openness remains essential today. “Without this open and perceptive gaze towards the real demands of our brothers and sisters, none of your Congregations would have been founded,” he said. He encouraged the religious to observe, evaluate, and respond to the needs of their communities with love, even at the risk of personal sacrifice.
The Pontiff called for a “living memory” of their founders’ vision, not as nostalgia but as a dynamic inspiration to uncover untapped potential in their charisms. “Following in the footsteps of past generations,” he said, “means grasping the high ideals, vision, and values that inspired them, and putting them to good use in the service of the ‘here and now.’”
Gratitude for Unseen Good
In closing, Pope Leo expressed deep gratitude for the often-unseen contributions of religious communities worldwide. “I know how much good you do every day in so many parts of the world, good that is often unseen by human eyes, but not by God’s,” he said. “I thank you and bless you from my heart, encouraging you to continue your mission with faith and generosity.”
The Pope’s message resonated as a call to balance fidelity to tradition with bold responsiveness to contemporary challenges, ensuring that religious life remains a vibrant witness to faith in an ever-changing world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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