Showing posts with label Dicastery for the Laity. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV appoints Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life

Pope Leo appoints leader of Knights of Columbus to Vatican body

The pontiff appointed Patrick Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life on Aug. 25.

Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly during an audience with Knights of Columbus leadership at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

By Ishmael Adibuah

August 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. The Vatican announced Kelly’s appointment on Aug. 25.

The dicastery was created by Pope Francis in 2016 to promote, as stated in its statutes, “the apostolate of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of the family and its mission according to God’s plan and for the safeguard and support of human life.” The dicastery is also the Vatican office responsible for organizing the international World Youth Day (WYD).

Its members are not full-time staff and do not need to relocate to Rome. Rather, they attend plenary sessions in Rome and vote on decrees.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell has served as its prefect since 2016, the year it was founded.

Kelly first joined the Knights of Columbus in 1983 while a student at Marquette University in Wisconsin. After studying law at Marquette University Law School and theology at The Catholic University of America, where he earned a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, he served 24 years in the United States Navy, earning several military honors.

Before joining the leadership of the Knights of Columbus, Kelly served as an adviser to several U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of State. As senior adviser to the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom at the U.S. Department of State, he served as a liaison between the U.S. government and other countries, including the Holy See, on religious freedom issues.

In 2006, Kelly was named vice president for public policy of the Knights of Columbus. He became deputy Supreme Knight in 2017 before being elected Supreme Knight in 2021.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Pope Leo XIV meets with leaders from lay associations and ecclesial movements

Pope

Pope: Church’s lay leaders must foster openness and communion

Pope Leo XIV encourages leaders of ecclesial movements and lay associations to guide those under their care with discernment and transparency, so that they may remain open to the world and grounded in communion.

By Devin Watkins

Pope Leo XIV met on Thursday with participants in a meeting of Moderators of associations of the faithful, ecclesial movements, and new communities, which was promoted by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.

In his address, the Pope reflected on governance in the Church, noting that leadership of any organization is critical to the group’s success and longevity.

Governance, he said, involves giving “a sure direction, so that the community may be a place of growth for the people who belong to it.”

In the Church, leadership is not only about coordinating practical matters but more importantly about acting as an expression of God’s saving will in Christ.

Pope Leo noted that governance in lay associations is entrusted to lay people by their communities, which vote for them in freedom.

He then pointed to three consequences of leaders’ reception of this gift of the Holy Spirit.

Leadership, he said, must benefit the entire community, not personal interests, and it must never be imposed, but rather recognized and freely accepted.

Finally, leadership in the Church is a charism that must be exercised in coordination with and subjected to the discernment of the Bishops.

“Certain characteristics must always be present in governance: mutual listening, co-responsibility, transparency, fraternal closeness, and community discernment,” said the Pope. “I would also like to recall that good governance, instead of concentrating everything on itself, promotes subsidiarity, and the responsible participation of all members of the community.”

Pope Leo speaks to the lay Church leaders (@Vatican Media)

Pope Leo then reflected on the prophetic role of lay leaders in the Church, noting this requires listening to current pastoral needs in order to respond to new challenges.

“Belonging,” he said, “is authentic and fruitful when it is not exhausted in participation in activities internal to the group but interprets the signs of the times and reaches outward, addressing everyone, the culture of the time, and fields of mission not yet explored.”

At the same time, lay associations and ecclesial movements are called to embrace communion among themselves and with the universal Church.

Speaking off-the-cuff, Pope Leo noted that some groups get the idea that theirs is the only authentic charism. However, he warned, ecclesial movements must live in communion with the entire Church and with their local Bishop, even if they disagree with him.

Returning to his prepared remarks, the Pope said Church leaders must listen to various opinions, cultural contexts, and personal temperaments, while seeking to preserve the “higher good of communion.”

Pope Leo XIV invited lay leaders to bear witness through meekness, detachment, and selfless love, as they express the founding charism of their movements.

“Every authentic charism already includes within itself fidelity and openness to the Church,” he said.

Finally, the Pope praised the work and history of lay associations and ecclesial movements, saying many well-formed people and effective evangelizers have emerged from them.

“Preserve and, with the grace of God, help all these gifts to grow!” he concluded. “The Church supports and accompanies you.”

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Pope Leo XIV announces plans for 2nd World Children's Day

Pope Leo signs a flag bearing the 2026 World Children's Day logo (@Vatican Media)

Pope

Pope Leo XIV announces Second World Children’s Day in 2026

Pope Leo XIV announces the second edition of World Children’s Day, which will take place in Rome on September 25-27, 2026.

By Devin Watkins

At the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV blessed and signed a flag bearing the official logo of the 2026 World Children’s Day.

“My thoughts go to children, whom I will have the joy of encountering on the Day dedicated to them, which is scheduled for September 25-27, 2026,” he said as he greeted Italian-speaking pilgrims.

Afterwards, a 7-year-old boy from Gaza, Majd Bernard, presented the flag to the Pope, together with Fr. Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv., President of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day (WCD).

According to a press release from the Committee, World Children’s Day will be “a moment of encounter, prayer, and celebration involving children and their families from all over the world.”

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, said the Church wishes to pay attention to children and families.

“Children must be shown the beauty of peace—peace lived first of all within their families, in the places they frequent, and in the whole world,” said the Cardinal. “Children understand well the value of peace and suffer greatly when they sense tension and conflict around them, starting with their parents or in their surroundings.”

Cardinal Farrell expressed his hopes that the second WCD will offer “a beautiful opportunity for the Church to show closeness to children and their families, giving them hope and joy.”

The logo for the 2026 event, borne by the flag presented to the Pope on Wednesday, includes seven footprints, representing the seven continents.

According to the press release, the footprints recall the “simple and authentic gestures of childhood, a sign of the universality and purity of the little ones.”

Its various colors represent the diversity of cultures and form a harmony that seeks to welcome and value differences.

The Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica offers a symbolic embrace that “welcomes and protects children from all over the world, with the cross recalling the passion and resurrection of Christ.”

The first World Children’s Day, held in 2024, saw around 100,000 children in attendance, hailing from 101 nations.

“With the second edition in 2026,” noted the press release, “the Church renews her commitment to listening to and valuing the voices of the little ones, protagonists of a world that longs for peace, welcome, and a future.”

Monday, August 4, 2025

Fresh off an incredible Jubilee for Youth in Rome, preps moving forward for World Youth Day in South Korea

The Secretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life says preparations have already begun for WYD Seoul 2027

Vatican

WYD Seoul: Preparations have already begun

Following Pope Leo's annoucement of the dates for World Youth Day in 2027, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life extends an invitation to bishops and youth ministry offices worldwide to start their journeys towards the global event.

By Kielce Gussie

Following the Angelus on 3 August during the Jubilee of Youth, Pope Leo XIV announced the dates for the next World Youth Day, which is to be held in Seoul, South Korea.

During the Angelus prayer at Tor Vergata, Pope Leo renewed Pope Francis' invitation to everyone to attend WYD 2027 (@Vatican Media)

“I renew the invitation that Pope Francis extended in Lisbon two years ago: young people from all over the world will gather together with the Successor of Peter to celebrate World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, from 3 to 8 August 2027.”

“I renew the invitation that Pope Francis extended in Lisbon two years ago: young people from all over the world will gather together with the Successor of Peter to celebrate World Youth Day in Seoul, Korea, from 3 to 8 August 2027.”

The journey continues

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, responded to the papal invitation, expressing his gratitude for the announcement. He also extended an invitation to formators, youth ministry offices, and bishops “to journey together toward Seoul, guided by the theme of WYD Seoul 2027: ' Take courage! I have conquered the world!'

The Prefect shared that it is the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year—hope—that helps encourage everyone to proclaim the Gospel message throughout the world. “It is up to young people to become pilgrims of hope to heal loneliness and poverty, and to become witnesses of peace in this world torn apart by divisions, conflicts, and wars”, he continued.

According to the Dicastery’s Secretary, Dr. Gleison De Paula Souza, preparation for the WYD in two years has already started and “is proceeding quickly towards the dates chosen by the Holy Father.”

The Dicastery has teamed up with the Local Organizing Committee of Seoul, Dr. De Paula Souza explained, as well as the bishops and young people from around the world, “welcomed by the Korean Church, come together to witness that the encounter with Christ changes lives and gives the courage to overcome the challenges to which they are called.”

See you in Seoul

Closing the Angelus, the Pope tied in the Jubilee message with World Youth Day, saying:

“It is precisely the hope that dwells in our hearts that gives us the strength to proclaim the victory of the risen Christ over evil and death; and you, young pilgrims of hope, will be witnesses of this to the ends of the earth! I look forward to seeing you in Seoul: let us continue to dream together and to hope together.”