Pope Leo Calls for Global Commitment to Strengthen and Protect Families

Vatican, 25 October 2025: Addressing the faculty and students at the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Pope Leo emphasised the Church’s call to protect and strengthen the family across all cultures and contexts. He highlighted the moral, social, and pastoral responsibilities of the faithful, urging practical and spiritual engagement in family life to ensure its dignity and flourishing.

"Everywhere and always, we are called to sustain, defend and promote the family," Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed in his address. He acknowledged the diverse challenges families face across social, economic, and cultural contexts, stressing that support must be offered "above all through a way of life coherent with the Gospel."

The Pope reflected on the transformative power of the Gospel, which "commits us to promote organic and concerted actions in support of the family." He underlined that a nation’s social and political quality is particularly measured by its ability to enable families to live well, spend time together, and strengthen their bonds. "In a society that often exalts productivity and speed at the expense of relationships," he said, "it becomes urgent to restore time and space to the love that is learned in the family."

Human Life is a Gift

Recalling the words of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV encouraged parents to "cherish the joy of bringing a new life into the world." He added that human life is "a gift and must always be welcomed with respect, care, and gratitude." Highlighting the plight of mothers experiencing pregnancy in solitude or marginalisation, the Pope insisted that both civil and ecclesial communities must work to restore "motherhood its full dignity."

To achieve this, he called for "concrete initiatives," including policies guaranteeing adequate living and working conditions, cultural and formative programmes recognising the beauty of collaborative parenthood, and pastoral care that accompanies families with closeness and listening. "Motherhood and fatherhood, thus safeguarded," he stressed, "are by no means burdens weighing upon society, but rather a hope that strengthens and renews it."

Pope Leo XIV reminded the students and professors of the importance of linking family studies to the Church’s social doctrine. This could be pursued by integrating family study into the Church’s teaching on social life and enriching it with lived family experiences to better understand Church principles. He reiterated the vision of the Second Vatican Council and previous Popes, describing the family as "the first cell of society as the original and fundamental school of humanity."

Reflecting on pastoral concerns, the Pope acknowledged that many young people worldwide may undervalue or even reject marriage. He urged faculty and students to remain attentive to "the action of God’s grace in the heart of every man and woman," noting that even when young people stray from Church teachings, "the Lord continues to knock at the door of their hearts, preparing them to receive a new interior call."

"If your theological and pastoral research is rooted in prayerful dialogue with the Lord," he said, "you will find the courage to discover new words capable of touching deeply the consciences of the young." He observed that, despite the tensions and ideologies that confuse hearts, a growing search for spirituality, truth, and justice, particularly among young people, offers an opportunity for pastoral care.

A Call for Mutual Listening

Encouraging continued participation in the synodal journey, the Pope emphasised the need for mutual listening, especially in international academic settings, to discern ways to serve marriage and family effectively. He highlighted that family life precedes and instructs study in areas such as faith transmission, daily prayer, education in love and peace, care for migrants, and environmental stewardship, "especially through testimonies of dedication and holiness."

Pope Leo concluded by urging students and faculty to begin the new academic year with hope, "certain that the Lord Jesus always sustains us with the grace of his Spirit of truth and life."

The Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family was founded by Pope Francis through the Apostolic Letter Summa familiae cura on 8 September 2017, succeeding the Institute established by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It operates a central session in Rome, seven extra-urban sessions across the United States, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Benin, and India, and associated centres in Lebanon, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic, with collaboration in Kenya.

Courtesy: Vatican News