Q: What was the main message Pope Leo XIV gave to the John Paul II Institute?
A: Pope Leo XIV told the teachers and students at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute that their primary mission is to both speak and live the “common witness to the truth,” emphasizing the importance of applying theology to real-life family experiences.
Q: Why is this message particularly relevant for the Institute now?
A: The Pope noted a global tendency to disregard marriage and a growing search for spirituality among young people, urging the Institute to find new ways to connect with them and reaffirm the Church’s teachings on family and life.
Q: What changes has Pope Leo XIV made regarding the Institute’s leadership?
A: Pope Leo XIV appointed Cardinal Baldassare Reina as grand chancellor of the Institute, a move that returns to the traditional practice of linking this leadership role with the vicar general of Rome, differing from the previous appointment under Pope Francis.
Q: How does the Pope view the family’s role in society?
A: Pope Leo XIV reiterated the Church’s teaching that the family is the “first cell of society” and the “original and fundamental school of humanity,” emphasizing its crucial role in strengthening and renewing society, especially through safeguarding motherhood and fatherhood.
Q: What specific call to action did the Pope make regarding motherhood?
A: He called on both civil and Church communities to restore full dignity to motherhood by creating policies for adequate living and working conditions, promoting initiatives that celebrate creating life, and providing pastoral support for women and men.
Pope Leo XIV to John Paul II Institute: Your mission is to speak and live the truth
