(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 29.08.2025) – On Friday morning, August 29, Pope Leo XIV received the members of the Saint Andrew Schools of Evangelization, in a private audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy Father’s brief address focused on the mission of evangelizers today.
The full text follows.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning and welcome.
You have come to Rome during this Jubilee Year from various countries, as pilgrims of hope. I welcome you. I greet His Eminence Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, Mr. José Prado Flores and his family, and all the members of the «San Andres» Schools of Evangelization who are present here.
As you know, today in the universal Church the Liturgical Memorial of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated. His figure can help us much to reflect on the mission of evangelizers today in the Church and in the world. In the Prologue of the Gospel of Saint John it is stated that «the Word became flesh and dwelt among us» (John 1:14), and then it indicates that John the Baptist bears witness to this (cf. v. 15). If we carefully reread the first chapters of the fourth Gospel we can discover the key to every school of evangelization: to bear witness to that which has been contemplated in the encounter one has had with the God of life. Thus also the Evangelist tells us in his First Letter: «That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ» (1 John 1:3). This is the mission of the Church, this is the mission of every Christian.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is our vocation as baptized persons. Therefore, we must transmit what we have received, so that we may all become one in Christ. During these days of pilgrimage, I especially invite you to contemplate the lives of the Saints who, like Saint John the Baptist, have been faithful followers of Jesus Christ, manifesting this in good words and deeds.
I thank you for the fruitful work you carry out in support of evangelization through various means, and I encourage you to continue walking with renewed hope. May God bless you and Our Lady of Guadalupe always protect you in your mission. Good journey!
