Every Baptized Person Is Called to Evangelize, Says Pope Leo XIV

Vatican City, March 2026 : Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged Catholics worldwide to rediscover the vital role of the laity in the Church, stressing that every baptized individual has a responsibility to actively participate in spreading the faith.

Speaking during the general audience at St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff called on the faithful to renew their awareness of belonging to the people of God and to embrace the responsibilities that come with it. His catechesis centered on Chapter 2 of Lumen Gentium, one of the foundational documents of the Second Vatican Council.

Pope Leo XIV explained that the Church, understood as the “communion of the faithful,” includes both clergy and laity and is guided collectively in matters of faith. He emphasized that this unity grants the Church a unique ability to safeguard revealed truth, rooted in what he described as the shared “supernatural sense of faith” among all believers.

From this unity, the pope highlighted a key principle: every baptized person is an “active agent of evangelization.” He noted that all members of the Church are called to bear witness to Christ through their lives, guided by the prophetic mission entrusted to the entire community of believers.

Reinforcing teachings from Vatican II, the pope said that the faithful share in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. This “common priesthood” arises through baptism and is strengthened by confirmation, placing an obligation on Christians to spread and defend the faith both in word and action.

Quoting Pope Francis, Leo XIV underscored that all members of the Church share equal dignity as part of the “holy people of God,” regardless of their roles or positions. He stressed that this shared identity forms the foundation of unity within the Church.

A central theme of the address was the concept of “sensus fidei,” or the “sense of the faith.” The pope explained that this refers to the collective ability of the faithful to recognize authentic teachings and discern truth from error in matters of belief. Importantly, he clarified that this sense is not an individual faculty but one that belongs to the Church as a whole.

“The holy people of God participate in the prophetic mission of Christ,” he said, adding that this shared discernment allows the Church to deepen its understanding of revelation and apply it meaningfully in everyday life.

Pope Leo XIV also highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in sustaining the Church’s vitality. He said the Spirit distributes diverse gifts and charisms among believers of all ranks, enabling them to contribute to the renewal and growth of the Church.

These spiritual gifts, he noted, equip individuals to undertake various roles and responsibilities, strengthening the Church’s mission in the world. He pointed to consecrated life and lay associations as powerful examples of how these charisms bear fruit in building up the community of faith.

Concluding his message, the pope called for a renewed appreciation of the Church as a living, Spirit-guided community. He encouraged believers to actively engage in their faith, not as passive members but as committed participants in the Church’s mission to share the Gospel.

Team Maverick