Pope Leo XIV sends a message to educators at a conference in Madrid, noting that Christian identity is the foundation of education. He reminds them that Christ is the guiding compass for teaching, shaping both character and knowledge.
Vatican News
In a video message to the “Sin identidad no hay educación” conference at Colegio Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo in Madrid on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV praised educators for their dedication amid the challenges of modern education.
“Your mission in the service of the Church is living leaven for new generations and the communities that find in it a solid point of reference,” the Pope said.
Highlighting the theme of the conference, the Pope noted that “without identity, there is no education.”
He explained that Christian identity is not a decorative emblem, but “the very core that gives meaning, method, and purpose to the educational process.”
The compass is Christ
“Just as sailors rely on the North Star, in Christian education the compass is Christ,” he explained. Without this guidance, education risks becoming routine and losing its transformative power.
He also underscored the integration of faith and reason in education.
“They are not opposing poles but complementary paths to understand reality, shape character, and cultivate intelligence. Educational experiences must involve sciences and history, ethics and spirituality, all within a community that is like a home. True collaboration among families, parishes, schools, and local realities accompanies each student concretely in their journey of faith and learning,” he said.
Church’s maternal role in education
He further recalled the Church’s maternal role in education, as articulated by the Second Vatican Council.
“The Church is the mother generating believers, the spouse of Christ. She safeguards the ability to guide and teach, entrusted to her by her most holy Founder: to bring forth children, educate them, and sustain them, guiding with maternal providence the lives of individuals and peoples.”
Gravissimum educationis
Finally, marking the 60th anniversary of the conciliar declaration Gravissimum educationis, Pope Leo XIV encouraged educators to see their work as part of the Church’s essential mission
“Education is not merely a social service, but an expression of the Church’s identity and vocation,” he said.