Pope: Christian formation requires patience, accompaniment, safeguarding

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

Pope Leo XIV offered a roadmap on Friday morning for those involved in Christian formation, highlighting the importance of taking care of human life at all its stages, especially when it comes to preventing abuse.

“It is essential to foster within our communities formative aspects aimed at respecting human life in all its phases, in particular those that help prevent all forms of abuse of minors and of vulnerable people, as well as accompanying and supporting victims,” Pope Leo said in his address to participants in the third plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, on February 6.

The plenary assembly took place on February 4-6 in Rome and focused on the theme “‘Until Christ is formed in you’ (Gal 4:19): The formation of the laity in Christian life and the experience of World Meetings.”

In his speech, Pope Leo reflected on several important elements of Christian formation that can be useful to those engaged in this important task, such as the “communal dimension.” 

Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life   (@Vatican Media)

It is the Church that generates the faith

“Just as human life is transmitted through the love of a man and a woman, so Christian life is conveyed through the love of a community,” he said.

“It is not the priest alone, or a catechist, or a charismatic leader, who generates faith, but the Church, the united, living Church, made up of families, young people, single people, and consecrated persons, animated by charity and therefore eager to be fruitful, to transmit to everyone, and especially to the new generations, the joy and fullness of meaning that it lives and experiences.”

“What makes parents want to give life to their children is not the need to have something, but the desire to give, to share the overflowing love and joy that dwells within them,” the Pope continued, adding that this is the root of every formation initiative.

Approaching formation like parents transmitting the faith to their children  

On the topic of parents’ love for their children, Pope Leo XIV also noted that sometimes in the Church the figure of the formator as a teacher that can impart skills has taken precedence over that “of the ‘father’ capable of generating faith.”

He insisted that “transmitting doctrine, observance, and ethics” is not enough, but rather formators are “called to share what we live, with generosity, sincere love for souls, willingness to suffer for others, and unreserved dedication, like parents who sacrifice themselves for the good of their children.”

In this regard, the Pope pointed to St. Paul as a model to follow, because this idea is reflected also in Chapter 4, verse 19, of his Letter to the Galatians, which the Dicastery chose as the theme for their Plenary Assembly.

Do not get discouraged

The Pope also emphasized that formators “need to promote consistent, engaging, and personal life paths” that lead to Baptism and the Sacraments, and help those who are discovering their faith “to mature and preserve a new way of life that embraces every area of existence, both private and public, such as work, relationships, and daily conduct.”

“As we can see, the art of formation is not easy and cannot be improvised,” Pope Leo acknowledged. “It requires patience, listening, accompanying, and verification, both on a personal and community level, and cannot be separated from the experience and company of those who have lived it, in order to learn to follow their example.”

He cited certain important saints such as St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Philip Neri, St. Joseph Calasanz, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, St. John Leonardi, and St. Augustine.

In light of all these models to follow, the Pope urged the participants in the Dicastery’s plenary assembly to continue their work, calling them not to get discouraged even when the challenges they face may sometimes seem beyond their “strength and resources.”

“Start small, following in faith the Gospel logic of the ‘mustard seed,’ confident that the Lord will never fail to provide you, at the right time, with the energy, people, and graces you need,” Pope Leo said, encouraging his listeners to trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary and imitate her faith.

Pope Leo meets with the participants in the plenary assembly of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life]   (@Vatican Media)