A constant source of hope and inspiration, Pope Francis has profoundly shaped the very mission and the whole life of the Catholic school community, moving a generation of children and young people throughout England and Wales to put their faith into action, to care for our world and for those in greatest need.
In Laudato Si’, his cry to the world that young people demand change reflected his respect for, and belief in young people, aware that the younger generations would be hugely impacted by lack of care for the earth, ‘our common home’. This phrase that was new to many ten years ago, now has immense resonance to hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their teachers, who have taken up the challenge and responded to his call to hear the cry of the earth, and the cry of the poor.
Monica Conmee, CAFOD’s Head of Education was able to share with Pope Francis an album featuring their actions.
“My abiding memory of meeting Pope Francis was his incredible warmth and genuine interest for each person he met. You could see his sheer joy upon hearing about children and young people from across England and Wales who had passionately embraced and responded to the message of Laudato Si’, taking action for a better world for all. The Pope's heartfelt response and encouragement were a testament to his genuine connection with young people and a powerful reminder of the profound impact that passionate, young voices can have on the world.”
Pope Francis receiving the photo album of children and young people's actions inspired by Laudato Si'.
“You could see his sheer joy upon hearing about children and young people from across England and Wales who had passionately embraced and responded to the message of Laudato Si’, taking action for a better world for all. ”
There is no doubt that the impact of Pope Francis’s words can be found in every Catholic school in the country. The Catholic School Inspection Framework and the Religious Education Directory highlight the teachings of integral ecology and the culture of encounter that Pope Francis espoused in Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. His 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, set the tone for his ministry and the tone for Catholic schools in England and Wales, with a focus on the joy of the gospel, a passion which served as a beacon of hope, an inspiration to continue striving for a better, more just world.
How poignant it is in this Jubilee Year, as hundreds of thousands of children and young people in schools around or nations embark on their Jubilee journey, aspiring to his invitation to be pilgrims of hope, he is now passing the baton over to these trusted young hands. There is no doubt that we are seeing the Pope Francis generation rising to this challenge; glimmers of hope are glowing as they commit to build a better world for all.
Children's messages to Pope Francis.