In an address at the Vatican on June 6, Pope Leo XIV spoke directly to leaders of Catholic lay associations, movements, and new communities, calling these groups “leaven of unity” and vital partners in the Church’s evangelizing mission.
The Holy Father offered both praise and direction in what is already being seen as a signature message of his emerging papacy.
“You represent the thousands who live out their faith in community,” the Pope said warmly, acknowledging the wide diversity of ecclesial movements — from the Charismatic Renewal to Focolare, Communion and Liberation, and countless others. “The Church is grateful to you for all the good that you do.”
His remarks came during the annual gathering organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, bringing together global leaders of lay-led apostolates recognized by the Holy See, and the Jubilee of Movements this weekend.
Charisms and the Life of the Church
Pope Leo XIV highlighted the foundational importance of charisms — the spiritual gifts that animate communities and fuel Christian outreach. Quoting Iuvenescit Ecclesia, he noted that charisms allow “sacramental grace to bear fruit in Christian life in different ways and at every level.”
He warned that without these gifts, the grace of Christ “may not find good soil,” and affirmed that both hierarchical authority and charismatic expression are “co-essential” to the Church’s identity, echoing a teaching of St. John Paul II.
These movements, the Pope said, are not side projects but integral to the life and mission of the Church.
“Thanks to the charisms that gave rise to your movements, many people have drawn closer to Christ and have found hope in life,” he said.
Unity and Mission: The priorities of Peter
Pope Leo placed particular emphasis on two priorities of his papal ministry: unity and mission. To the first, he called on movements to be “instruments of communion,” working alongside bishops and within parishes, avoiding factionalism and fostering fraternity in a fractured world.
To the second, he issued a missionary charge: “Always keep this missionary zeal alive in your midst.”
Recognizing the depth of experience in the room, he urged them to continue sharing the Gospel with “those who, albeit distant, are often waiting — without being aware of it — to hear God’s word of life.”
The Pope’s language struck a balance between fatherly encouragement and apostolic urgency, noting that the Church’s vitality depends in large part on the creativity, formation, and faithfulness of its lay members.
A Pope listening to the Laity
Notably, this was Pope Leo XIV’s first in-person meeting with this cohort of global Catholic leaders. His tone was personal, hopeful, and marked by trust:
“God willing, we will have other opportunities to get to know each other better,” he said.
He closed by pointing to Christ as the center of all charisms and missions, encouraging leaders to embrace the path of self-giving love. “Those who join with others in pursuing an apostolic goal are called alike to enrich others through the emptying of self.”
The meeting marked a strong signal that the new pope sees lay movements not only as helpers in the Church’s mission — but as protagonists.
