More than 20,000 people from nearly 115 countries gathered in the Eternal City this weekend to celebrate the Jubilee of Catechists, held from September 26 to 28. Tasked with guiding those seeking to learn about the faith and receive the sacraments, these Church representatives from around the globe had the opportunity to meet Pope Leo XIV. 

On September 27, the pontiff welcomed the participants during an audience in St. Peter’s Square. In his address, the Pope urged them to “serve God's dream” and to live out their faith within their own family and social contexts: 

“Are you a mother? A father? Become a Christian as mother and father. Are you an entrepreneur? A worker? A teacher? A priest? A religious sister? Become a Christian along your own path.” 

In the afternoon, participants gathered in various churches across central Rome to attend catechesis sessions with bishops held in six languages: Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Polish. 

Patrizia di Resta is marking one year in her ministry as a catechist. For her, Christ gives catechists the gift of “speaking for Him and about Him.” This is the essence of her work with young people, with whom she engages in discussions about the historical events of Christianity and the Gospel. 

“Being called to be a catechist is truly a vocation,” she said, “a great responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity. It allows you to share not only your knowledge, but your whole life — above all, your lived experience of what it means to know Christ, to live in Christ, and to pass that on to the most sensitive minds, and often the most receptive: children and young people.”

A concert was held at the Church of Santa Andrea delle Valle as part of the Jubilee celebrations. This musical afternoon, featuring the choir and orchestra Fideles et Amati, was conducted by Tina Vasaturo.

Catherine Miles-Flynn was among those who received the lay ministry of catechist at this event. Born in the United States, mother of eight children, and Director of Christian Formation for the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, she explained that her work has deepened her understanding of the crucial role catechists play. 

“To be a catechist,” she added, “first of all begins in the house, begins in the home, with a mother and the father instructing their children to pray, and showing an excellent witness as christians themsleves, but then in the greater community, it’s good for the young people to come together to learn together about the faith.”

Catherine works alongside Bishop Paolo Martinelli, head of the Catholic Church in Southern Arabia. During an event organized by EWTN as part of the jubilee celebrations, the prelate emphasized the vital role of laypeople in the Church’s mission in the region.

“Catechists are vital,” His Excellency said, “[they] are essential in the life of the Vicariate because we have many Catholics there, more than 1 million, and we are an Islamic country and the catechists are pillars for the life of the Church because they are at the service of the transmission of faith to the new generations, of course, first of all the family, parents, are the first agent in the transmission of faith, but it is very important for our parents, for the families, to know that there are people dedicated to support them in the communication of faith.”   

The highlight of the celebrations was the Mass on September 28, during which Pope Leo XIV instituted 39 new catechists from countries including Brazil, India, Mozambique, South Korea, England, Peru, Mexico, and the United States, among others. 

During the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope emphasized that the mission of the catechist is to teach “with a living voice” and to make the message of the Resurrection resound. He added:

“The catechist is a person of the Word — a word spoken through one’s very life. That’s why our first catechists are our parents, those who first spoke to us and taught us to speak. Just as we learned our mother tongue, the proclamation of faith cannot be delegated to others — it happens right where we live.”

At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope made a special announcement: he revealed that on November 1, he will confer the title of Doctor of the Church upon Saint John Henry Newman, as part of the Jubilee dedicated to the world of education.

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Adapted by Jacob Stein

Alexey Gotovskiy contributed to this story; Produced by Paola Arriaza; Camera by Fabio Gonella, Mustafa Coja; Video Edited by Alessio Di Cintio