Leo XIV continued his reflection today, during the General Audience, on the mission of the Church in the contemporary world.
The Pope stressed that the Church cannot turn away from the reality around it, and called on all Christians to contribute, through faith and charity, to building a more just, peaceful, and fraternal world.
Dear brothers and sisters, we return to our reflection on Gaudium et Spes, considering the
Church’s mission in the contemporary world. As the Son of God became incarnate to fulfill his
redemptive mission, so the Church dwells in the world as a living sign of God’s plan to reconcile the
world to himself. By discerning the signs of the times through the lens of the Gospel, she carries out
this task by helping people respond to the profound questions of life and contributing to society
through her witness of faith and charity. To be effective in this mission, the Church depends on every
baptized person cooperating with the grace of the Holy Spirit and seeking holiness. The lay faithful,
in particular, are called to animate the culture in which they live with a Christian spirit. In our call to
build up the Kingdom of God, may we renew our efforts toward personal sanctification, justice and
fraternal love, and thus be signs of hope for all people.
I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in
today’s Audience, especially those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Uganda, South Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Canada and the United States of America.
Upon each of you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless
you all!
