Pope Leo XIV has offered reassurance to catechists and parish leaders struggling with declining participation, emphasizing that authentic belonging to the Church matters more than visible numbers in the pews.
In a response published in the January edition of Piazza San Pietro magazine, the Holy Father addressed a letter from Nunzia, a Swiss catechist serving in the small town of Laufenburg, who described growing difficulty engaging families and young people in parish life. According to Vatican News, Nunzia expressed discouragement as children and parents increasingly prioritize social activities over faith, leaving churches sparsely attended and often dominated by older generations.
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In his reply, Pope Leo situated her experience within a broader reality affecting much of the Christian world. He noted that her situation “is no different from that of other countries with ancient Christian traditions,” acknowledging that declining participation is a shared pastoral challenge rather than an individual failure.
The Pope urged catechists not to measure their work solely by visible results. “The hours dedicated to catechesis are never wasted, even if there are very few participants,” he wrote, offering encouragement to those laboring faithfully despite limited response.
According to Pope Leo, the deeper issue confronting the Church is not numerical decline but a weakened sense of identity among believers. “The problem is not the numbers — which, of course, make one reflect — but the increasingly evident lack of awareness in feeling part of the Church,” he explained, stressing that Catholics are called to see themselves as “living members of the Body of Christ” rather than consumers who approach the sacraments “out of mere habit.”
The Holy Father also framed this moment as a call to renewal rather than resignation. “As Christians, we always need conversion. And we must seek it together,” he wrote, reminding the faithful that the true entry point into faith “is the Heart of Christ, always wide open.”
Grounding his message in the legacy of Paul VI, Pope Leo concluded with a call to joyful witness, emphasizing that evangelization flows not from strategies or statistics, but from lived faith. “What we can do is bear witness to the joy of Christ’s Gospel, the joy of rebirth and resurrection,” he said.
For catechists and parish communities facing discouragement, the Pope’s message offers a clear reassurance: fidelity, perseverance, and authentic witness remain fruitful, even when growth is not immediately visible, according to Vatican News.
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