This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the communities of the Theological Faculty of Apulia and the Theological Institute of Calabria, to whom he delivered the following address:

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers, welcome!

I am pleased to meet you this morning, and to share with you some reflections regarding the path of formation offered by your respective institutions, the Theological Faculty of Apulia and the Theological Institute of Calabria.

Thinking of the two regions you come from, bathed in the beauty and the vastness of the sea, the words Pope Francis addressed to the community of writers of La Civiltà Cattolica come to mind, which may also be useful for you: “Stay in the open sea. The Catholic must not be afraid of the open sea, must not seek the shelter of safe harbours” (Meeting with the writers of “La Civiltà Cattolica, 9 February 2017).

There is a great need for this attitude, especially in the contexts where the faith must be proclaimed and inculturated today. It is not a question of acquiring knowledge to fulfil academic obligations, but of embarking on a courageous voyage, a crossing of the high seas. This journey moves in two directions: on the one hand, it is a journey to descend into the depths, probing the abyss of the mystery of God and the different dimensions of the Christian faith; on the other hand, it is a journey to set sail and go further, to explore other horizons and thus find new forms and new languages in which to proclaim the Gospel in different situations throughout history.

This is an important point, which I would like to emphasize: theology serves to proclaim the Gospel, hence it is an integral and fundamental part of the Church’s mission. Theological formation is not destined for a few specialists, but is a call addressed to everyone, so that every person may explore the mystery of faith and receive useful tools to carry out with passion the “persevering commitment to a social and cultural meditation on the Gospel” (Apostolic Constitution Veritatis gaudium, Foreword, 3).

From this perspective, I wish to recall the precious journey of unity you have undertaken in your Regions, also by unifying realities, institutes and formation programmes that previously operated independently. This is a truly important synergy: a real historical step forward in which you are playing a leading role, promoting communion between dioceses, helping to overcome old parochialism and, above all, encouraging an ecclesial journey marked by unity and fraternity. On this path, it is possible to build a common horizon of thought and a convergence on pastoral challenges and the needs of evangelization.

Here, then, is my invitation: let us do theology together! Formation that serves the proclamation of the Gospel is only possible together, sailing “on the open sea” but not as solitary navigators. And to do so, as we said, by leaving our safe harbour, going beyond our territorial and ecclesial boundaries, in encounter, in mutual listening and dialogue, in the communion between Churches that brings together resources, skills and charisms.

By doing theology together, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral horizons widen and merge, generating common perspectives and a more embodied ecclesial commitment in the territory, offering you the opportunity to renew the styles and languages of faith in the real context in which you find yourselves.

By doing theology together, you will discover you are a laboratory that prepares future priests and pastoral workers to live out ecclesial relationships in a synodal style, in which various subjects ministries and ecclesial charisms complete one another, overcoming all barriers.

Finally, by doing theology together, you will be more capable of welcoming the demands and the challenges of the social and cultural context. Indeed, the wealth of history from which you come, and the widespread religiosity of your people do not eliminate the many social problems, the crisis of employment, the phenomenon of emigration, and all those forms of oppression, slavery, and injustice that call for a new conscience and a bold commitment on the part of everyone. Theological formation contributes to generating critical and prophetic thinking, representing a cultural investment for the future capable of defusing the logic of resignation and indifference.

I encourage you to carry forward this project with enthusiasm and determination, and without letting yourselves be swayed by the temptation to turn back. I invite you to dream of an academic community in which the candidates to ordained ministry, consecrated men and women, and laypeople are formed together and help Christian communities to become a sign of the Gospel and workshops of hope.

Thank you, dear friends, for your commitment, for your generous service, for the patience and industriousness with which you are constructing this mosaic of unity and communion: this helps us to live in the world amid fidelity and creativity, tradition and newness, unity and diversity, always listening to what, even today, the Spirit of the Lord wants to say to the Churches and to the Church.

May Saint Francis of Paola and Mary Most Holy, Regina Apuliae, protect you and intercede for you. Thank you!