This Friday, August 29, 2025, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the “Saint Andrew Schools of Evangelization” and recalled that the mission of the Church and of every baptized person is to bear witness to the encounter with the God of life.

He addressed the greetings we publish below:

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Greetings from the Pope

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome.

You have come to Rome during this Jubilee Year from various countries, as pilgrims of hope. I welcome you. I greet His Eminence, Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, Mr. José Prado Flores and his family, and all the members of the “Saint Andrew” Schools of Evangelization who are present here.

As you know, today the universal Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. His figure can greatly help us reflect on the mission of evangelizers today, in the Church and in the world. In the Prologue to the Gospel of Saint John, it is stated that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14), and then it indicates that John the Baptist bears witness to this (cf. v. 15). If we carefully reread the first chapters of the Fourth Gospel, we can discover the key to every school of evangelization: bearing witness to what has been contemplated, to the encounter one has had with the God of life. This is also what the Evangelist tells us in his First Letter: “What we have seen and heard, we proclaim to you also, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 Jn 1:3). This is the mission of the Church, this is the mission of every Christian.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is our vocation as baptized persons. Therefore, we must pass on what we have received, so that we may all become one in Christ. During these days of pilgrimage, I especially invite you to contemplate the lives of the saints who, like Saint John the Baptist, have been faithful followers of Jesus Christ, manifesting him in good words and deeds.

I thank you for the fruitful work you carry out in support of evangelization, through various means, and I encourage you to continue walking with renewed hope. May God bless you and Our Lady of Guadalupe always protect you in your mission. Good journey!