Pope Leo XIV has called on the Catholic Church to play a greater role in addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world, urging it to listen to and welcome “the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them.”
The Pope made the remarks during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, where he emphasised the Church’s responsibility to remain attentive to the concerns and aspirations of people facing an increasingly complex world.
The Pope’s address also marked the beginning of a new phase in his catechesis series, focusing on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, particularly the 1965 Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (“Joy and Hope”). Drawing from the document, Pope Leo XIV said the Church is called to share in humanity’s journey and make its own the joys, griefs and anxieties of the world, especially those of the poor and afflicted.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, was elected to lead the Catholic Church in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. Born Robert Francis Prevost, he spent much of his religious life serving in Peru before taking on senior responsibilities within the Vatican.
His election came at a time when the Church was navigating questions about its role in a rapidly changing world, including social inequality, migration, conflict and the impact of technological change.
Pope Leo XIV concluded by reminding the faithful that Jesus shared in human history through the Incarnation, calling the Church to make the “joys, hopes, griefs, and anxieties” of the world its own, particularly those of the poor and afflicted.
