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This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the German Catholic Student Associations, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

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

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!  Herzlich willkommen!

I am told that Germans are very punctual! Ich bin ein Ausländer.

Dear friends,

I am pleased to greet all of you, members of the German Catholic student associations, who are gathering for a joint conference, the  Cartellversammlung , for the first time outside of Germany. Your decision to come here to Rome,  ad Petri Sedem , is motivated by the Catholic faith that defines you, by the communion that binds us as disciples of Jesus and by the cultural activities you undertake. I would like to reflect briefly on these three aspects to strengthen the bond of fraternity that unites you and your shared dedication to the Church.

Regarding your Catholic identity, your firm commitment to the faith is reflected in the four principles that guide your association:  religio ,  scientia ,  amicitia  and  patria . In the face of the despotism and ideologies of the past, the Catholic faith has never been merely a veneer or a label, but rather a way of life to be shared in university and in work settings. Like evangelical leaven, your fraternity continues to grow within scientific and political contexts as well as across various academic, professional and social circles. This communal dimension of your activities benefits not only your country, but also all of Europe, of which Germany is at the center.

To this geographical centrality, you rightly add the cultural centrality of the human person, a creature of God and the architect of his or her own life. Faced with the challenges of the technological revolution, you should devote particular attention to the study and the promotion of our common humanity. In his or her irreducible expression as male or female, the human person is in fact always relational and limited, and therefore called to become a task for oneself and a gift to the other. Just like the exercise of reason, so too does the light of faith illumine the promises and deceptions of the present time, calling on each person to do their best to help build a just and peaceful society.

Regarding the spirit of communion that animates this initiative, I am pleased to recall your motto:  In certibus unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas . These words attest to the true foundation, the critical dialogue and constant dedication that characterize your association. The relationship among members of many associations is not limited to sharing knowledge, but matures into reciprocal esteem. It is not confined to ideas but becomes a collaborative practice. As all of you follow Christ, the only Lord and Master of life, you represent Catholic values in society not as those who carry partisan flags, but as representatives of the common good of humanity. In Germany, in Italy and throughout the world, the same Catholic faith strengthens our cooperation, without compromising with the trends of the moment, without placing individualistic preferences ahead of the common Tradition of the Church. In the joy of fraternity, I therefore encourage you to promote the evangelization of culture: your university organizations continually draw in new young people because they bear witness to passion, competence and authentic Christian friendship.

With regard to the diverse cultural activities that you undertake across various fields of study and work, you have come to realize that it is not merely a matter of pursuing a profession ( Beruf ), but of following a vocation ( Berufung ). Indeed, the search for truth is a good worth desiring and passing on. As we pursue it methodically, we come to understand that no field of study can be reduced to mere speculation. Precisely because it involves the exercise of both intellect and will, study is rather a commitment, requiring self-discipline and conversion: a transformation of the mind, which we cultivate like fertile soil by honing our tools of the trade. By doing our very best, we become responsible stewards in society without being seduced by careers focused on money. Let us rather recognize that culture is the good of humanity: truth sets us free, while falsehood distorts names and things. In the face of what dehumanizes people – especially the least among us, the poor and the sick – I ask you to be witnesses to Christian humanism. In this regard, I invite you to reflect deeply on what  Pope Benedict XVI , a distinguished former member of your association, said: develop a coherent “ecology of man. Man, too, has a nature that he must respect” ( Address to the Bundestag ,, 22 September 2011). Integral ecology, so dear to  Pope Francis  (cf. Encyclical Letter  Laudato Si’  10–11, 62), sheds light on the fact that the world is full of meaning, and not an inert entity to be shaped arbitrarily or by the thirst for power. We, in fact, are not random aggregates of particles, but bodies open to transcendence: by directing our thirst for life and justice, for wisdom and love, we discover together the truth in knowing, doing and believing.

After all, human beings are always seeking God, and he has revealed himself to us as our Saviour. It is not in spite of our activities, then, but precisely through what we do that we develop a relationship with God, which becomes a path to holiness. Yes, the cultural mission of Christians is to direct society and history toward this pinnacle of a God-centered life. Through the intercession of Saint Boniface, evangelizer of Germany, may you be witnesses to this wisdom of the Gospel in German and in European society. With esteem for your associations, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing upon all of you and your loved ones.  Danke sehr!

Let us pray together: Pater noster …

This morning, Friday, 5 June 2026, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in Audience, the Director-General of UNESCO, His Excellency Mr. Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial talks at the Secretariat of State, emphasis was given to the good relations between the Holy See and UNESCO, which the Holy Father is scheduled to visit in September as part of his Apostolic Journey to France.

Discussions continued with a focus on the need to promote the integral development of the human person through education. The opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence were also addressed. Above all, the importance of education in fostering dialogue among different cultures was reaffirmed as a privileged means of promoting peace, as well as the need to protect humanity’s cultural heritage.

From the Vatican, 5 June 2026

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience His Excellency Mr. Charles Personnaz, Ambassador of France to the Holy See, on the occasion of the presentation of his credential letters.

The following is a brief biography of the new Ambassador:

His Excellency Mr. Charles Personnaz Ambassador of France to the Holy See

His Excellency Mr. Charles Personnaz was born on 9 October 1977, and is married with four children.

He graduated from the Institut d’études politiques (IEP) in Paris (1999) and subsequently obtained a Diplôme d’études approfondies (DEA) in History from the Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV), where he also obtained a Maîtrise d’histoire .

A graduate of the École Nationale d’Administration (2002–2004, Léopold-Sédar-Senghor cohort). He has held the following posts: Head of the Office for Cultural and Museum Activities, Directorate of Memory, Heritage and Archives at the Ministry of Defence (2004–2007); Directorate of Memory, Heritage and Archives at the Ministry of Defence (2008–2009); Secretary-General of the Directorate of Museums of France (2009–2010); Director of the Association for the Creation of the Maison de l’Histoire de France at the Ministry of Culture (2010–2012); Project Director at the Delegation for Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Defence (2012–2014); President of the Fund for the Schools of the East (French State and Œuvre d’Orient ); Special Advisor, on a voluntary basis, at the Œuvre d’Orient (since 2012); Auditor at the Court of Auditors (2014–2019), responsible for the audit of public broadcasting; and Director of the Institut national du patrimoine (2019–2026).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- His Excellency Mr. Charles Personnaz, Ambassador of France, presenting his credential letters;

- His Excellency Mr. Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, Director General of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (U.N.E.S.C.O.);

- Bishops of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, on their “ad Limina Apostolorum” visit;

- His Eminence Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome, with members of the Episcopal Council;

- German Catholic Students’ Associations.

Statistics of the Catholic Church in Spain as of 31 December 2024 (from the Central Office of Church Statistics)

The following are some statistical data regarding the situation of the Catholic Church in Spain as of 31 December 2024:

Table 1 – Population and ecclesiastical structure

 

 

Spain

Area (km 2 )

 

505,992

Population (in thousands)

 

48,620

Density (inhabitants/km 2 )

 

96

Catholics (in thousands)

 

45,336

Catholics per 100 inhabitants

 

93.25

Ecclesiastical circumscriptions

 

71

Parishes

 

22,788

Other pastoral centres

 

4,137

Catholics per pastoral centre

 

1,684

 

 

 

Table 2 – People engaged in activities of the apostolate

Bishops (Situation as of 30.04.2026)

 

130

 

Diocesan priests

 

12,461

 

Religious priests

 

5,652

 

Total priests

 

18,113

 

Permanent deacons

 

601

 

Men religious other than priests

 

2,435

 

Professed women religious

 

32,996

 

Members of secular institutes

 

1,588

 

Lay missionaries

 

96

 

Catechists

 

80,637

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3 – Indicators of pastoral workload

Catholics per priest

 

2,503

 

Catholics per pastoral worker

 

332

 

Priests per pastoral centre

 

0.67

 

Priests per 100 people engaged in activities of apostolate

 

13.4

 

 

 

 

 

Table 4 – Priestly vocations

Minor seminarians

 

595

 

Major seminarians

 

1,343

 

Major seminarians per 100.000 inhabitants

 

2.76

 

Major seminarians per 100.000 Catholics

 

2.96

 

Major seminarians per 100 priests

 

7.41

 

 

 

 

 

Table 5 - Educational centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

Schools:

 

 

- Pre-school and primary

 

3,773

- Middle and secondary

 

1,885

- Higher education and university

 

104

 

 

 

Students in:

 

 

- Pre-school and primary

 

726,856

- Middle and secondary

 

549,013

- Higher education and university

 

158,709

 

 

 

Table 6 - Charitable and social centres owned / managed by ecclesiastics or religious

Hospitals

 

58

Clinics

 

51

Leper colonies

 

-

Homes for the elderly and disabled

 

848

Orphanages and nurseries

 

660

Family consultation centres

 

226

Special social education or rehabilitation centres

 

197

Other institutions

 

3,051