Photo Credit: Vatican News Video Credit: Vatican News
At the Weekly General Audience held on April 1, 2026, at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the vital responsibility of the lay faithful in the life and mission of the Church.
Addressing pilgrims gathered at the Square, the Holy Father emphasized the essential role of lay people as pillars of the Church, noting that their witness to the Word of God contributes significantly to evangelization, the growth of the Christian community, and the promotion of peace.
Continuing his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, the Pope explained that the mission of the laity extends beyond proclaiming the Gospel to include acts of charity, such as almsgiving, and fostering peace in society. He stressed that through these actions, lay faithful extend the presence of the Church throughout the world.
The Pontiff further underscored that the laity, who form the majority within the Church, play a central role in witnessing to God’s goodness. He noted that the Church is made present wherever its members live out the Gospel—in workplaces, civil society, and personal relationships—through choices that reflect Christian values and promote justice and peace rooted in the Kingdom of God.
Reflecting on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father also drew on insights from Pope Francis, describing the Church as “embodied in history” and “always open” to the mission of proclaiming God’s Word.
Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed that both ordained ministers and consecrated persons, though fewer in number, together with the laity, share equally in baptism and in service to God’s mission. Citing paragraph 31 of Lumen Gentium, he explained that lay faithful are called, by virtue of their baptism, to bring Christian values into the world and to live lives that reflect Christ.
Concluding his address, the Holy Father prayed that the Easter season would inspire renewal among the faithful, encouraging them to emulate the witness of figures such as Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John, who proclaimed the joy of the Risen Christ.
By Anita Aryeh
DEPSOCOM, Accra
