This is the text from Pope Leo XIV’s homily pronounced at the Mass for the Jubilee of the World of Education and proclamation of St. John Henry Newman as “Doctor of the Church” on All Saints Day, Nov. 1, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square.

On this Solemnity of All Saints, it is a great joy to include Saint John Henry Newman among the Doctors of the Church, and, at the same time, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the World of Education, to name him, together with Saint Thomas Aquinas, as co-Patron of the Church’s educational mission. Newman’s impressive spiritual and cultural stature will surely serve as an inspiration to new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite, and who, through research and knowledge, are willing to undertake that journey which, as the ancients said, takes us per aspera ad astra, through difficulties to the stars.

The lives of the saints teach us that it is possible to live passionately amidst the complexity of the present, without neglecting the apostolic mandate to “shine like stars in the world” (Phil 2:15). On this solemn occasion, I wish to say to teachers and educational institutions: “Shine today like stars in the world” through your authentic commitment to the collective search for truth and to sharing it with generosity and integrity. Indeed, you do so through your service to young people, especially the poor, and your daily witness to the fact that “Christian love is prophetic: it works miracles” (Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te, 120).

The Jubilee is a pilgrimage of hope, and all of you, in the great field of education, know well how much hope is an indispensable seed! When I reflect on schools and universities, I think of them as laboratories of prophecy, where hope is lived, and constantly discussed and encouraged.

This is also the meaning of the Beatitudes proclaimed in today’s Gospel. The Beatitudes bring with them a new interpretation of reality. They are both the path and the message of Jesus the Teacher. At first glance, it seems impossible to declare as blessed those who are poor, or those who hunger and thirst for justice, the persecuted or the peacemakers. Yet, that which seems inconceivable in the world’s thinking is filled with meaning and light when brought into contact with the Kingdom of God. In the saints, we see this kingdom approaching and becoming present among us. Saint Matthew rightly presents the Beatitudes as a teaching, depicting Jesus as a Master, who transmits a new perspective on things, which is reflected in his own journey. The Beatitudes, however, are not just another teaching; they are the teaching par excellence. In the same way, the Lord Jesus is not just one of many teachers, he is the Master par excellence. Moreover, he is the Educator par excellence. We are his disciples and are in his “school.” We learn how to discover in his life, namely in the path he has travelled, a horizon of meaning capable of shining a light on all forms of knowledge. May our schools and universities always be places of listening to the Gospel and putting it into practice!

Responding to today’s challenges may sometimes seem beyond our capabilities, but this is not the case. Let us not allow pessimism to defeat us! I recall what my beloved predecessor Pope Francisemphasized in his Address to the First Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery for Culture and Education: that we must work together to set humanity free from the encircling gloom of nihilism, which is perhaps the most dangerous malady of contemporary culture, since it threatens to “cancel” hope. This reference to the darkness that surrounds us echoes one of Saint John Henry Newman’s best-known texts, the hymn “Lead, Kindly Light.” In that beautiful prayer, we come to realize that we are far from home, our feet are unsteady, we cannot interpret clearly the way ahead. Yet none of this impedes us, since we have found our Guide: “Lead, Kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on;” “Lead, Kindly Light, The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on.”

The task of education is precisely to offer this Kindly Light to those who might otherwise remain imprisoned by the particularly insidious shadows of pessimism and fear. For this reason, I would like to say to you: let us disarm the false reasons for resignation and powerlessness, and let us share the great reasons for hope in today’s world. Let us reflect upon and point out to others those “constellations” that transmit light and guidance at this present time, which is darkened by so much injustice and uncertainty. I thus encourage you to ensure that schools, universities and every educational context, even those that are informal or street-based, are always gateways to a civilization of dialogue and peace. Through your lives, let the “great multitude” shine forth, of which the Book of Revelation speaks in today’s liturgy, and which “no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,” and which stood “before the Lamb” (7:9).

In the biblical text, one of the elders observing the multitude asks: “Who are these… and from where have they come” (Rev 7:13). In this regard, in the field of education too, the Christian gaze rests on those who have come “out of the great tribulation” (v. 14) and recognizes in them the faces of so many brothers and sisters of every language and culture who, through the narrow gate of Jesus, have entered into the fullness of life. And so, once again, we must ask ourselves: “Does this mean that the less gifted are not human beings? Or that the weak do not have the same dignity as ourselves? Are those born with fewer opportunities of lesser value as human beings? Should they limit themselves merely to surviving? The worth of our societies, and our own future, depends on the answers we give to these questions” (Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te, 95). We can say, too, that the evangelical value of our education also depends on the answers we give.

The lasting legacy of Saint John Henry Newman includes some very significant contributions to the theory and practice of education. He wrote, “God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission—I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next” (Meditations and Devotions, III, I, 2). In these words, we find beautifully expressed the mystery of the dignity of every human person, and also the variety of gifts distributed by God.

Life shines brightly not because we are rich, beautiful or powerful. Instead, it shines when we discover within ourselves the truth that we are called by God, have a vocation, have a mission, that our lives serve something greater than ourselves. Every single creature has a role to play. The contribution that each person can make is uniquely valuable, and the task of educational communities is to encourage and cherish that contribution. Let us not forget that at the heart of the educational journey we do not find abstract individuals but real people, especially those who seem to be underperforming according to the parameters of economies that exclude or even kill them. We are called to form people, so that they may shine like stars in their full dignity.

Pope Leo XIV speaks extemporaneously, in English, with members of the International Youth Advisory Body. In prepared remarks consigned to the young people. the Holy Father encouraged them to focus on synodality, mission, and participation, in order to counter isolation and help the Church reach out to those in need.

In the social media age, do not live your faith in isolation

Pope Leo emphasized that for young people, “the synodal Church” can be “a challenge, a catalyst”, as “it encourages them not to live their faith in isolation”, especially in the social media and digital age.

He recognized that “in recent years, many young people have approached the faith through social media, successful programs, and popular online Christian witnesses.”

However, he warned that “the danger” with this “is that a faith discovered online is limited to individual experiences, which may be intellectually and emotionally reassuring, but are never ‘embodied’.” This means it remains “detached from the ‘ecclesial body’” and not “lived alongside others in real-life situations, relationships or sharing.”

“All too often, social media algorithms merely create a sounding board for individuals, picking up on personal preferences and tastes, and ‘sending them back’ magnified and enriched with appealing proposals,” he continued. “Yet, everyone remains alone with themselves, prisoners of their own inclinations and projections”.

For the Pope, the antidote to this danger can be “experiences of lived synodality” which help “overcome the barriers of the self and encourage young people to become effective members of the family of Jesus Christ”.

Help the Church hear the voice of the weak and the poor

The Pope also pointed out that young people in a synodal Church are also “called to speak on behalf of their peers,” especially “the weak, the poor, and the lonely, refugees and those who struggle to integrate into society, or to access educational opportunities.”

“All too often, these voices are drowned out by the noise of the powerful, the successful and those who live in ‘exclusive’ realities,” he reflected.

A synodal Church wants “to listen to what the Holy Spirit says to young people” and “welcome their charisms, the gifts that are specific to their age and their sensibilities,” the Pope insisted.

Synodality, he added, helps show that, “in the image of the Holy Trinity, the Church is also a communion of persons, of the faithful of every age, language, and nationality, who journey together, enriching one another and sharing their spiritual gifts.”

Look beyond appearances, be leaders of creativity and courage

The Pope then highlighted how “authentic synodality” is guided by the Holy Spirit and thus it “leads to mission.” “It is not a question of the rules governing meetings. Instead, it is about making room for God’s action by listening to the Spirit,” he wrote, adding that the Holy Spirit always leads to “Jesus, who is the Truth.”

In order to discern, “in every age, how to bring the Gospel to everyone”, Pope Leo encouraged young people to “have open hearts, ready to listen both to the ‘inspirations’ of the Spirit and the deep ‘aspirations’ of each person.”

“You must look beyond appearances in order to seek the true answers that give meaning to life,” he emphasized. “You must have hearts that are open to God’s call and not engrossed in your own plans, and are willing to understand and sympathize before forming judgements”.

“The concept of mission also entails freedom from fear, because the Lord loves to call us to forge new paths,” he continued, urging young people to be “leaders of creativity and courage.”

Participation in the Church comes from spirituality, not ideology or politics

The Pope thanked the group of young people for their work, “which will provide new energy and momentum to the missionary heart of the Church.” He pointed out that the IYAB is part of a wider spiritual youth movement, which includes World Youth Day and regular youth ministries, and thus “keeps the Church forever young.”

In this regard, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance for this group of young people to, “above all,” recognize that they are participating in the life and universal mission of the Church, directed at men and women all over the world.

“Where does authentic ecclesial participation come from? I would say that it stems from being close to the Heart of Christ. Its origin, then, is spiritual, not ideological or political,” he wrote.

The Pope in fact urged the members of IYAB, to look upon the young people of our time and their “hopes, dreams, and difficulties” with “Christ’s same compassion and try to envisage how the Church, inspired by faith, can go out to meet them.”

Be concerned for the suffering of others

He explained how, in the Gospel, Christ looks beyond “the small circle of disciples in front of Him”, as He desires that His message of salvation, unity of faith, and mutual love should reach “all people, including those who are far away and those who will come in the future.”

“The Lord always carries the whole world in His heart.  This is the source of participation,” the Pope continued.

He thus invited the young people to become Jesus’ “friends through prayer, the Sacraments, and daily life” in order to “begin to feel as He feels”. This means to be “concerned for, and touched by, the suffering of others, their needs and aspirations” and it gives “rise to the desire to participate, to be part of the Church’s universal mission”.

“This involvement is also a sign of human and spiritual maturity,” he wrote. “While children are only concerned with their own needs, mature persons know how to share the problems of others and make them their own,” Pope Leo continued, encouraging the group of young people to “immerse” themselves in Christ.

As a powerful tropical system forms over the Caribbean, the faithful are invited to respond with both spiritual readiness and practical compassion. Tropical Storm Melissa is forecast to rapidly strengthen “into a major hurricane and could end up being one of the strongest of the season.

According to recent forecasts, the storm poses a very real risk of catastrophic impacts for islands such as Jamaica which may face an eye-wall or landfall.

As Catholics, how might we respond in the face of such a formidable natural event?

1. Prayer and Intercession
We are called to pray for the safety of the people in the storm’s path. In the words of the psalmist: “The Lord is my refuge and my fortress; in Him I trust”(Psalm 91:2). We ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Protector of those in peril, and of the saints who labored in times of natural disaster, that all affected might find shelter and hope.

2. Solidarity and Charity
The storm reminds us of our unity as one human family, especially when people in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and other islands face grave danger. The document of the Church’s social teaching, Gaudium et Spes, states that we are called to “share what we have with one another” (no. 69). Practical charity may mean supporting relief efforts, donating to trusted Catholic organizations serving the region, or preparing to lace the prayer of the faithful into our parish communities.

3. Readiness and Hope
While the storm’s full track remains uncertain, it is wise to heed warnings and prepare. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “God grants his faithful certain gifts for the common good” (CCC 1910). Prudence—planning ahead, heeding evacuation orders, helping the vulnerable—is one of those virtues. And hope grounds our action: even in the face of danger, our hope is rooted in the Resurrection of Christ, which conquers every fear of death, loss, and devastation.

A Prayer for Those at Risk

Let us pray:

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

Most holy Trinity, we entrust to Your loving care all those in the path of the storm called Melissa. Protect the innocent and the vulnerable, the sick and the elderly, the families and children facing danger. Grant courage to emergency workers, comfort to those who must flee, and relief to those whose homes and livelihoods are threatened.

Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, wrap your mantle of compassion around Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and every island and coastal region in potential harm. Guide the responses of civil authorities, aid workers, and volunteers, that they may act with efficiency, wisdom and solidarity.

Lord Jesus Christ, you calmed the stormy seas with a word—«Peace, be still». Bring your peace to these troubled waters, still the winds and waves, and bring swift recovery to whatever is damaged or lost. May the faith, hope and love of your Church be a beacon of light for all who suffer.

We ask this through You, Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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

While this storm may not strike every place directly, the forecast shows that its potential effects are grave. For those living in or connected to the Caribbean region, this is a moment to stay alert, prepared, and grounded in faith. For those of us further away—whether here in the continental U.S. or elsewhere—it is a call to prayerful solidarity and readiness to assist.

If the storm track shifts or additional updates are released, we’ll continue to monitor and respond both spiritually and practically. Let us walk together in faith, bearing one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2) and trusting in the Lord’s deliverance.