Pope welcomes study center to Vatican

Pope Leo XIV held an audience Friday for members of the Leo XIV International Study Center, an Augustinian initiative created to help the Church address modern challenges using social doctrine.

Walking together across differences

The Pope praised the Center's commitment to dialogue with universities, civil society, and ecclesial groups. He said the secret to this approach is walking together without closing doors to those who are different.

“the secret lies in walking together, always, without closing the door to encounters with those who are different”

Humanism and Catholic social teaching

Pope Leo encouraged the Center to draw from authentic humanism and the Church's social doctrine. He said peace and just balances, not war, create civilization.

“It is not war, but the weaving of peace and just balances that creates civilization”

Laypeople shape social teaching

The Pope emphasized that the Church's social teaching has popular roots. Laypeople grappling with modern challenges have shaped how Christian revelation applies to social, labor, and economic contexts.

A mission of hope and service

The Pope defined the Center's mission as promoting formation for public life as service to the common good, with relationships built on solidarity, justice, and peace.

History open to conversion

Reflecting Saint Augustine, the Pope said we should view history through the crucified and risen Lord, seeing the present not as closed destiny but as open to personal and collective conversion.

“we do not interpret the present as a closed destiny, but as a field open to personal and collective conversion”