Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning’s General Audience took place at 10.00 in Saint Peter’s Square, where the Holy Father Leo XIV met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope continued his cycle of catechesis on “The Documents of the Second Vatican Council”, focusing on the theme: Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. The Church, a priestly and prophetic people (Reading: 1 Pet 2:9-10).

After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed special greetings to the faithful present.

The General Audience concluded with the recitation of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

 

The Documents of the Second Vatican Council. II. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. 4. The Church, a priestly and prophetic people

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

Today I would like to revisit the second chapter of the Conciliar Constitution  Lumen gentium  ( LG ), devoted to the Church as the people of God.

The messianic people ( LG , 9), receive from Christ the participation in the priestly, prophetic and kingly work office through which his salvific mission is carried out. The Council Fathers teach that the Lord Jesus, through the new and eternal Covenant, has established a kingdom of priests, constituting his disciples as a ‘royal priesthood’ ( 1 Pet  2:9; cf.  1 Pet  2:5;  Rev  1:6). This common priesthood of the faithful is given with Baptism, which enables us to worship God in spirit and truth, and to “confess before men the faith which they have received from God through the Church” ( LG , 11). Furthermore, through the sacrament of Confirmation, all the baptized “are more perfectly bound to the Church … and the Holy Spirit endows them with special strength so that they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith, both by word and by deed, as true witnesses of Christ” ( ibid . ). This consecration is at the root of the common mission that unites the ordained ministries and the lay faithful.

In this regard,  Pope Francis  observed that, “Looking at the People of God is remembering that we all enter the Church as lay people. The first sacrament, which seals our identity forever, and of which we should always be proud, is Baptism. Through Baptism and by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, (the faithful) ‘are consecrated as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood’ ( LG , 10), [so that] everyone forms the faithful Holy People of God” ( Letter to the President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America , 19 March 2016).

The exercise of the royal priesthood takes place in many ways, all aimed at our sanctification, first and foremost through participation in the offering of the Eucharist. Through prayer, asceticism and active charity, we thus bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace (cf.  LG , 10). As the Council summarizes, “it is through the sacraments and the exercise of the virtues that the sacred nature and organic structure of the priestly community is brought into operation” ( LG , 11).

The Council Fathers then teach that the holy People of God also participate in the prophetic mission of Christ (cf.  LG , 12). In this context, the important theme of the  sense of the faith  and the  consensus of the faithful  is introduced. The Doctrinal Commission of the Council specified that this  sensus fidei  “is like a faculty of the whole Church, by which she, in her faith, recognises the revelation handed down, distinguishing between true and false in matters of faith, and at the same time penetrates it more deeply and applies it more fully in life” (cf.  Acta Synodalia , III/1, 199). The sense of faith therefore belongs to individual believers not in their own right, but as members of the People of God as a whole.

Lumen gentium  focuses on this latter aspect, and places it in relation to the infallibility of the Church, to which that of the Roman Pontiff is inherent and by which it is served. “The entire body of the faithful, anointed as they are by the Holy One (c.  1 Jn  2:20,27), cannot err in matters of belief. They manifest this special property by means of the whole peoples’ supernatural discernment in matters of faith when from the Bishops down to the last of the lay faithful they show universal agreement in matters of faith and morals” ( LG , 12). The Church, therefore, as the communion of the faithful – which naturally includes the pastors – cannot err in matters of faith: the organ through which this truth is preserved, founded on the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is the  supernatural sense of faith  of the entire People of God, which is manifested in the  consensus of the faithful . From this unity, which the Magisterium of the Church safeguards, it follows that every baptized person is an active agent of evangelization, called to bear consistent witness to Christ in accordance with the prophetic gift which the Lord bestows upon His whole Church.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit, who comes to us from the Risen Christ, “distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church” ( LG , 12). A particular demonstration of this charismatic vitality is offered by consecrated life, which continually germinates and flourishes through the work of grace. Ecclesial associations, too, are a shining example of the variety and fruitfulness of spiritual fruits for the edification of the People of God.

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Greeting in English

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from Nigeria, Tanzania, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that this Lent will be a time of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.  

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Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters, in our continuing catechesis on the  Second Vatican Council , today we consider the participation of the faithful in Jesus Christ’s priestly, prophetic and royal offices, as presented by the Dogmatic Constitution  Lumen gentium . Through the sacrament of baptism, each of us are called to share in Christ’s royal priesthood (1  Pt  2:9) and to worship him in spirit and truth, especially through our participation in the Eucharist. We also partake in Jesus’ prophetic mission, for we are called to bear witness to the truth of the faith. Indeed, the Council Fathers taught that “the whole body of the faithful … cannot be mistaken in belief. It shows this characteristic through the entire people’s supernatural sense of faith when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, it manifests a universal consensus in matters of faith and morals” ( LG , 12). Along with these gifts shared by all members of the Church, the Holy Spirit continues to allot special graces to the faithful in order to enrich and build up the body of Christ. It is important that we recognize these manifold gifts and express our gratitude to God for allowing us to be partakers in his work of salvation.

On  Friday 20 March 2026  at  11.30 , a  press conference  will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, for the  launch of the Mining Divestment Platform .

The speakers will be:

-  His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio , undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development;

-  His Eminence Cardinal Álvaro Ramazzini , bishop of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, known for his defence of human rights, indigenous peoples, migrants and social justice;

-  Bishop Vicente Ferreira  of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Brazil, adviser to the  Iglesias y Minería  (Churches and Mines) Network;

-  Ms. Yolanda Flores , leader of the Aymara people in Peru, in territories of major interest for the extraction of critical minerals;

-  Sr. Anneliese Herzig , religious sister of the Missionaries of the Holy Redeemer, head of the Department for the Mission and Social Affairs of the Austrian Episcopal Conference;

-  Sr. Maamalifar M. Poreku , missionary of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA), originally from Ghana, with extensive experience in the fields of justice, peace and integral ecology;

-  Fr. Dario Bossi , Comboni priest with experience in areas affected by mining activity, and former advisor to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, coordinator of the  Red Iglesias y Minería  (Churches and Mines Network).

The press conference will be livestreamed in the original language on the  Vatican News  YouTube channel, at  https://www.youtube.com/c/VaticanNews .

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference remotely must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Piattaforma di Disinvestimento nell’Ambito Minerario.

During the request phase, select the option “Sì”, in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform in order to participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility to ask questions.

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Piattaforma di Disinvestimento nell’Ambito Minerario.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

Simultaneous translation

It is possible to access the simultaneous translation channels in order to listen to the press conference in  Italian ,  English  and  Spanish , both by connecting to the respective  Vatican News  linguistic channels and by using the virtual participation platform indicated in the paragraph “Remote participation”.

Simultaneous translation is also available to those present in the Holy See Press Office.

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Journalists and media operators accredited for the press conference are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the start time.

Appointment of auxiliary bishops of the metropolitan archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela

The Holy Father has appointed the following as auxiliary bishops of the metropolitan archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela: the Reverend Fr. José Manuel León , C.P., assigning him the titular see of Gigti, and the Reverend José Dionisio Gómez Gouveia , assigning him the titular see of Fuerteventura.

Curriculum vitae of Msgr. José Manuel León, C.P.

Msgr. León was born on 29 October 1966 in Barquisimeto. He was ordained a priest on 19 March 1994, and incardinated in the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

He was professor at the Institute of Theology for Religious and is currently parish priest of La Preciosisima Sangre , diocese of Petare; superior of the Passionist Fathers for Venezuela and for other Latin American countries; secretary general of the Latin American Passionist Conference; coordinator general of the Latin American Passionist Theological Team.

Curriculum vitae of Msgr. José Dionisio Gómez Gouveia

Msgr. Gómez Gouveia was born on 4 June 1966 in La Guaira. He was ordained a priest on 24 November 2001, and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Caracas.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar and parish priest of various parishes; chaplain of La Planta Prison in Caracas; formator of the preparatory seminary; bursar and vice rector of the archdiocesan seminary.

He is currently rector of the Seminario Santa Rosa de Lima of the metropolitan archdiocese of Caracas.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Dom Thomas Georgeon, Abbot of the Abbey of La Trappe, France, and entourage;

- Participants in the Conference “Today who is my neighbor?”.

This morning, in the meeting room of the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father received in audience the participants in the Conference “Today who is my neighbor?”.

The following is the Pope’s address to those present during the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

 

Your Eminence, Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, Distinguished Ministers, Distinguished Representatives of International and European Institutions, Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning and welcome.

You have come to Rome from various European countries to take part in this moment of reflection entitled “ Today who is my neighbor? ”, organized by the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, the World Health Organization (European Region), and the Italian Episcopal Conference.

The second “WHO European Health Equity Status Report” will be presented today. This document draws attention to the situations faced by many people in Europe, especially the many men and women who experience poverty, loneliness and isolation in their daily lives.

In many countries, inequalities in the field of healthcare are growing, since fewer people are able to access the services available. Urgent attention must also be given to people’s mental health, particularly that of young people, because invisible psychological wounds are no less severe than those that are visible.

Health cannot be a luxury for the few. On the contrary, it is an essential condition for social peace. Universal health coverage is not merely a technical goal to be achieved; it is primarily a moral imperative for societies that wish to call themselves just. Healthcare must be accessible to the most vulnerable, then, not only because their dignity requires it but also to prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict.

The challenge at the heart of the theme you are reflecting on, which is taken from the Gospel of Luke (cf. 10:29), confronts all of us. We are not to justify ourselves, as the lawyer does, but to allow ourselves to be fully examined. Indeed, this question remains always relevant, and it has no single, unambiguous answer. Instead, it asks each of us to respond in a concrete and timely way. Therefore, we can ask ourselves: for me, at this moment in my life, who is my neighbor? In the various situations in which we live, the answers will vary. What does not change, however, is the call to reach out to others, especially to those who are suffering.

In the Book of Genesis we find a similar question: “The Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel, your brother?’ He replied, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’” (4:9). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, we find the answer: yes, you are your brother’s keeper, because you are called to safeguard his humanity.

Saint Augustine tells us that “God himself, our Lord, desired to be called our neighbor. For our Lord Jesus Christ points to himself under the figure of the man who brought aid to the one who was lying half dead on the road, wounded and abandoned by the robbers.”  [1]

In his Encyclical  Fratelli Tutti ,  Pope Francis  reflected on the role of the robbers who had wounded the traveler. He reminded us that “‘Robbers’ usually find secret allies in those who ‘pass by and look the other way’” ( n. 75 ). Distance, distraction and desensitization to the sight of violence and the suffering of others lead us toward indifference. Yet all men and women, especially Christians, are called to fix their gaze on those who suffer: on the pain of the lonely, on those who for various reasons are marginalized and considered “outcasts.” For without them, we cannot build just societies founded on the human person.

It is illusory to think that it would be easier to attain a state of happiness by ignoring these brothers and sisters. Only together can we build communities of solidarity capable of caring for everyone, in which wellbeing and peace can flourish for the benefit of all. Caring for the humanity of others helps us to live our own lives to the full.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Church “has a public role over and above her charitable and educational activities,” yet she is always at the service of “the advancement of humanity and of universal fraternity.”  [2]  The Churches in Europe and throughout the world, in cooperation with international organizations, can still play a decisive role today in combating inequalities in healthcare, particularly in support of the most vulnerable populations. Therefore, I renew my hope – indeed I urgently appeal – that “our Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit – one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ.”  [3]

Dear friends, I thank you for all that you are doing! I entrust you to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I cordially invoke God’s blessing upon you, your families and your service.

I thank you, and wish you well for your work.

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[1] Saint Augustine,  De doctrina christiana , I, 30, 33.

[2] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter  Caritas in Veritate  (29 June 2009), 11:  AAS  101 (2009), 648.

[3]  Message for the XXXIV World Day of the Sick  (11 February 2026).