Full text of the Catechesis of Leo XIV in the jubilee of the catechists

On the occasion of Jubilee of catechistsPope Leo XIV met thousands of pilgrims in the Plaza de San Pedro, before whom this Saturday he remembered the need to get small to be able to “intuit” the things of God.

Next, the full text of the Pope’s catechesis this September 27:

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The jubilee makes us pilgrims of hope, because we intuit a great need for renewal that concerns us and the whole earth.

I just said “we intuit”: this verb – intuit – describes a movement of the spirit, an intelligence of the heart that Jesus recognized mostly in the little ones, that is, in the people of humble soul. Often, in fact, wise people intuit little, because they presume knowing. Instead, it is beautiful to still have space in the mind and in the heart, so that God can reveal himself. How much hope when new intuitions arise in the people of God!

Jesus glad this, is full of joy, because he realizes that the little ones intuit. They have the sensus fidei, which is like a “sixth meaning” of simple people for the things of God. God is simple and reveals himself to the singles. That is why there is an infallibility of God’s people in believing, of which the infallibility of the Pope is expression and service (cf. Vatican Ecumenical Council, Lumen Gentium, 12; International Theological Commission, the Sensus Fidei in the life of the Church, 30-40).

I would like to remember a moment in the history of the Church, which shows how hope can come from the ability of the people to intuit. In the fourth century, in Milan, the Church was torn by great conflicts and the choice of the new bishop was becoming a true tumult. The civil authority intervened, Governor Ambrosio, who with a great capacity for listening and mediation returned calm. The story tells that then a voice of a child rose: “Ambrose Bishop!” And so all the people asked: “Ambrose Bishop!”

Ambrosio was not even baptized, he was just a catechumen, that is, he prepared for baptism. However, the people sensed something deep from this man and chose him. Thus the Church had one of its greatest bishops, and a doctor of the Church.

At first Ambrosio did not want, he even fled. Then he understood that this was a call from God, then he let himself be baptized and ordering bishop. And he became a Christian being bishop! Do you see what great gift the little ones did to the church? Also today is a grace to ask: become Christians while living the call received!

Are you a mother, are you a dad? Get Christian as a mother and dad. Are you an entrepreneur, worker, teacher, priest, religious? Get Christian on your way. The people have this “smell”: understand if we are becoming Christians or not. And you can correct us, you can tell us the direction of Jesus.

San Ambrosio, over the years, returned a lot to his people. For example, he invented new ways of singing psalms and hymns, of celebrating, of preaching. He himself knew how to intuit, and thus hope multiplied. Agustín was converted by his preaching and was baptized by him. Intiring is a way of waiting, let’s not forget!

God also makes his church advance, showing new paths. Intiring is the smell of the little ones for the next kingdom. May the jubilee help us become small according to the Gospel to intuit and serve God’s dreams!