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During the audience with the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of teaching as a “ministry and mission” to help young people give their best according to God’s plan, transforming the challenges of the contemporary era into “launching pads”. Central to his message was the call for “synergy” among all educational components.
Isabella Piro – Vatican City
Youth are described as “a volcano of life” and teachers as ministers and missionaries in the educational world by Pope Leo XIV during the audience with the Brothers of the Christian Schools – inspired by St. John Baptist de La Salle – received today, May 15, in the Clementine Hall. The backdrop of the meeting includes two special anniversaries: the third centenary of the promulgation of the Bull In apostolicae dignitatis solio, in which Benedict XIII approved the Institute and Rule (January 26, 1725), and the 75th anniversary of Pius XII’s proclamation of La Salle as the “Heavenly Patron of all educators” (1950).
READ THE FULL TEXT OF POPE LEO XIV’S SPEECH HERE
Youth can do wonderful things, but they need to grow harmoniously
Despite being historical, the Brothers of the Christian Schools have not lost their relevance, as emphasized by the Pontiff in his speech, highlighting La Salle’s ability to creatively respond to the many challenges of his time, venturing into “new and often unexplored paths” (this French saint and pedagogue initiated the “pedagogical revolution” of teaching directed towards classes and not just individual students). This should serve as a reference model even today.
The youth of our time, like those of every era, are a volcano of life, energy, feelings, and ideas. This can be seen from the wonderful things they can do in many fields. However, they also need help to harmoniously develop such richness and to overcome what, albeit differently from the past, can still hinder their healthy growth.
Isolation, superficiality, individualism: the challenges of today
Today, as in the past, young generations face numerous obstacles:
Think of the isolation caused by rampant relational models increasingly marked by superficiality, individualism, and emotional instability; the spread of weakened thought patterns due to relativism; the prevalence of rhythms and lifestyles where there is not enough room for listening, reflection, and dialogue, in school, at home, sometimes even among peers, leading to resulting loneliness.
Helping students to give their best
These “challenging issues,” according to the Pope, must become “launching pads” to develop new tools and languages to “touch the hearts of students, helping and encouraging them to bravely face every obstacle in life to give their best according to God’s plan.”
“Your altar is the classroom”
Therefore, the training of teachers will be central, following the cherished principle of La Salle, namely “teaching lived as a ministry and mission, as consecration in the Church”:
St. John Baptist de La Salle did not want priests among the teachers of the Christian Schools, but only “brothers,” so that every effort would be directed, with God’s help, towards the education of students. He used to say: “Your altar is the classroom,” thus promoting in the Church of his time a reality hitherto unknown: that of lay teachers and catechists invested in the community with a true “ministry.”
Synergy among educational components is necessary
In line with Pope Francis, Leo XIV calls for the principle of “evangelizing by educating and educating by evangelizing,” emphasizing the importance of “synergy” among all “educational components.”
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