Jubilee of Catechists in Rome

Screenshot

Source: Vatican Media

Thousands of catechists attended the Jubilee of Catechists in Rome on September 26-28.

On Saturday Pope Leo XIV held a special Jubilee Audience for Catechists in St Peter's Square

In his catechesis, the Pope reflected at length on the sensus fidei, which he said is like a "sixth sense of simple people for the things of God."

"God is simple and reveals Himself to the simple," he said. "For this reason, there is an infallibility of the People of God in believing, of which the infallibility of the Pope is an expression and a service."

Pope Leo turned to the 4th century St Ambrose, who was serving as governor of the city of Milan during a time of great conflict in the Church. As a civil authority, he intervened at a crucial point in the election of a new Bishop of Milan, employing his great ability for listening and mediation to bring calm among the faithful.

Tradition recounts that a child cried out "Ambrose bishop!" and the whole people joined him in acclamation.

"Ambrose was not even baptized; he was only a catechumen, that is, preparing for Baptism," he said. "Yet the people perceived something profound in this man and elected him. Thus the Church had one of its greatest bishops, and a Doctor of the Church."

Ambrose, said Pope Leo, at first refused and even fled the city, before understanding that this was a call from God, thus allowing himself to be baptized and ordained bishop.

The Pope marvelled at the great gift that "the little ones" gave to the Church. "Even today this is a grace to ask for: to become Christians while living out the vocation we have received!" he said.

As parents, entrepreneurs, workers, teachers, priests, or religious, every person is called to be a Christian through their chosen path, noted the Pope, adding that people can "sense" whether we are truly becoming Christians or not.

After accepting his vocation, St Ambrose lifted up the faith of his people, even creating new ways of singing psalms and hymns, of celebrating the liturgy and preaching. St Ambrose's preaching even converted St Augustine, who himself became a bishop and Doctor of the Church.

"He knew how to perceive, and in this way hope multiplied," he said. "To perceive, to intuit, is a way of hoping-let us not forget this!"

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV said God moves His Church forward and shows her new paths through the sensus fidei, the faith of the people of God. "To perceive, to intuit, is the instinct of the little ones for the Kingdom that is coming," he said. "May the Jubilee help us to become little ones according to the Gospel, so as to perceive and serve God's dreams!"

On Sunday many thousands of catechists attended the special Mass in St Peter's Square, celebrated by Pope Leo.

In his homily, the Pope reflected on the day's Gospel reading (Lk 16:19-31), which recounts the story of the rich man and Lazarus, noting that this was the same Gospel read during the Jubilee of Catechists during the Holy Year of Mercy in 2016.

Through this Gospel passage, he said, Jesus shows us how God views the world, as one man lies dying with dogs licking his wounds while another man gorges himself in elegant clothes just on the other side of the door.

"At the doorstep of today's opulence stands the misery of entire peoples, ravaged by war and exploitation," he said. "Through the centuries, nothing seems to have changed."

Even as many Lazaruses die while the rich ignore what is before their eyes, the Gospel assures us that God will do justice to both, putting an end to the poor man's sufferings and to the rich man's revelry.

After the rich man dies, he sees Lazarus at Abraham's side and begs God to warn his brothers of his fate. Yet Abraham, said Jesus, tells him that those who are alive have Moses and the prophets to warn them.

"Listening to Moses and the Prophets means remembering God's commandments and promises, whose providence never abandons anyone," said the Pope. "The Gospel announces to us that everyone's life can change because Christ rose from the dead."

Jesus' Resurrection, he added, is the truth which saves us and which must be proclaimed by the Church through her catechists.

By learning to love this truth, we come to understand the Gospel as our hearts are transformed and opened to God and our neighbor, said the Pope.

Pope Leo then reflected on the meaning of the word "catechist," which he said comes from the Greek word meaning "to teach aloud, to make resound."

A catechist, he said, is a person of the word that they proclaim with their life, whether they are our parents or a minister on behalf of the Church. "We have all been taught to believe through the witness of those who believed before us," he said. "From childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood, and even old age, catechists accompany us in our faith, sharing in this lifelong journey."

Catechists and everyone who teaches others by their example, said the Pope, cooperate in the Church's pastoral work by listening and serving "the desire for justice and truth that dwells in the human conscience."

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited catechists to be filled with faith so that they may help others along their journey of faith.

As St.Augustine told the Deacon Deogratias, "Explain everything in such a way that the one who listens to you, by listening, may believe; by believing, may hope; and by hoping, may love."

LINKS

Watch Saturday's Audience on the Vatican YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrBwg04viP4

And Sunday's Mass and Angelus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FIGh9OHm1s

Read the homily text: www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250928-omelia-giubileo-catechisti.html