Pope: Christian formation requires patience, accompaniment, safeguarding

Vatican | February 6, 2026: Pope Leo XIV on Friday highlighted the importance of Christian formation rooted in community life and attentive to safeguarding, especially the prevention of all forms of abuse.

Addressing participants in the third Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life on 6 February, the Pope stressed the need to respect human life at every stage and to accompany and support victims.

“It is essential to foster within our communities formative aspects aimed at respecting human life in all its phases, in particular those that help prevent all forms of abuse of minors and of vulnerable people, as well as accompanying and supporting victims,” Pope Leo said.

The Plenary Assembly, held in Rome from 4 to 6 February, focused on the theme “‘Until Christ is formed in you’ (Gal 4:19): The formation of the laity in Christian life and the experience of World Meetings.”

The communal dimension of faith

In his address, Pope Leo reflected on several key aspects of Christian formation, beginning with its communal dimension.

“Just as human life is transmitted through the love of a man and a woman, so Christian life is conveyed through the love of a community,” he said.

“It is not the priest alone, or a catechist, or a charismatic leader, who generates faith, but the Church, the united, living Church, made up of families, young people, single people, and consecrated persons, animated by charity and therefore eager to be fruitful, to transmit to everyone, and especially to the new generations, the joy and fullness of meaning that it lives and experiences.”

The Pope added that the impulse to transmit faith is rooted in the same generosity that motivates parents to give life to their children.

“What makes parents want to give life to their children is not the need to have something, but the desire to give, to share the overflowing love and joy that dwells within them.”

Formation as spiritual parenthood

Turning to the role of formators, Pope Leo XIV observed that the Church has sometimes emphasized the figure of the teacher who imparts skills over that “of the ‘father’ capable of generating faith.”

He insisted that formation cannot be limited to instruction alone.

“Transmitting doctrine, observance, and ethics” is not enough, he said, noting that formators are

“called to share what we live, with generosity, sincere love for souls, willingness to suffer for others, and unreserved dedication, like parents who sacrifice themselves for the good of their children.”

The Pope pointed to Saint Paul as a model of this approach, recalling the words of Galatians 4:19, chosen as the theme of the Assembly.

Patience and perseverance

Pope Leo also underlined the importance of sustained and personal paths of formation that lead to Baptism and the Sacraments and shape every dimension of life.

Formators, he said,

“need to promote consistent, engaging, and personal life paths”

that help believers

“to mature and preserve a new way of life that embraces every area of existence, both private and public, such as work, relationships, and daily conduct.”

Acknowledging the challenges involved, the Pope said:

“As we can see, the art of formation is not easy and cannot be improvised. It requires patience, listening, accompanying, and verification, both on a personal and community level, and cannot be separated from the experience and company of those who have lived it, in order to learn to follow their example.”

He cited saints including St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Philip Neri, St. Joseph Calasanz, St. Gaspar del Bufalo, St. John Leonardi, and St. Augustine as witnesses of effective Christian formation.

Concluding his address, Pope Leo encouraged participants not to lose heart when faced with difficulties.

“Start small, following in faith the Gospel logic of the ‘mustard seed,’ confident that the Lord will never fail to provide you, at the right time, with the energy, people, and graces you need.”

He entrusted their work to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, inviting them to imitate her faith.

By Vatican Reporter

Photo Credits : Vatican Media