Pope: Christian formation requires patience, accompaniment, safeguarding

Pope Leo XIV offered a roadmap on Friday morning for those involved in Christian formation, highlighting the importance of taking care of human life at all its stages, especially when it comes to preventing abuse.

“It is essential to foster within our communities formative aspects aimed at respecting human life in all its phases, in particular those that help prevent all forms of abuse of minors and of vulnerable people, as well as accompanying and supporting victims,” Pope Leo said in his address to participants in the third plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, on February 6.

The plenary assembly took place on February 4-6 in Rome and focused on the theme "'Until Christ is formed in you' (Gal 4:19): The formation of the laity in Christian life and the experience of World Meetings.”

In his speech, Pope Leo reflected on several important elements of Christian formation that can be useful to those engaged in this important task, such as the “communal dimension.”