On Thursday, May 28, Pope Leo XIV received participants in the plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions Regarding Evangelization in the World, in the Consistory Hall at the Vatican. Among those present was Moysés Azevedo, founder of the Shalom Catholic Community and a member of the Dicastery.
Recalling the Jubilee celebrated by the Church over the past year, the Pope expressed gratitude for the Dicastery’s work and emphasized the power of Christian hope as a response to the anxieties of today’s world. “The world is thirsting for hope more than ever before”, Leo XIV said, encouraging the Church to persevere in proclaiming the Gospel.
In his address, the Holy Father stressed that the Church’s mission must be creative and attentive to the diverse realities of contemporary society, while never losing sight of the centrality of Christ.
“Evangelization must continue to be the fundamental motivation behind every activity of the universal Church and of local communities.”
The Pope also warned of the challenges involved in passing on the faith from one generation to the next, noting that in some parts of the world this process has been nearly interrupted. According to the Pontiff, this reveals a situation marked by “spiritual poverty” among young people, who often lack the references and tools needed to develop a free and conscious commitment to the faith.
Leo XIV further emphasized that the proclamation of the Gospel cannot be diluted or stripped of its original force:
“Christianity does not become attractive by watering down its content or softening its demands, but by bearing humble and courageous witness to ‘the way, the truth, and the life.’”
Addressing the reality of younger generations, the Pope highlighted their openness to encountering the faith when they are presented with authentic Christian witness. He afirmed that “the younger generation is not closed to the Gospel. On the contrary, many, when they rediscover it, desire to know it more deeply”.
The Holy Father also reaffirmed that evangelization depends above all on the action of the Holy Spirit and on the coherence of Christian life. “What remains essential is trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit”, he said, underscoring that personal witness is decisive for the credibility of the faith.
About the Dicastery for Evangelization
The Dicastery for Evangelization is the department of the Roman Curia responsible for coordinating and promoting the Church’s evangelizing mission throughout the world. It oversees initiatives related to the proclamation of the Gospel and the transmission of the faith across diverse cultural and social contexts. The Dicastery is unique among Vatican departments in that it is presided over directly by the Pope. Its Pro-Prefects are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Archbishop Rino Fisichella.
In 2023, Moysés Azevedo was appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions Regarding Evangelization in the World. He is one of the Brazilian members of the body, contributing to discussions on the contemporary challenges of evangelization, with particular attention to dialogue with young people and the Church’s presence in the existential peripheries.
