Pope Leo XIV says faith and culture must integrate to sustain the Christian vocation

During a weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, October 28, Pope Leo XIV stated that a mature and responsible integration between faith and culture is necessary for Christians to witness to their faith in the world. While reflecting on the pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes as part of a series on the Second Vatican Council, the Pope said the Christian faith is not called to withdraw from the world or view cultural expressions with suspicion.

The Pope explained that the relationship between faith and culture is rooted in the Incarnation. He noted that because the Word became flesh, faith is an embodied reality that must reach daily life through art, poetry, thought, science, and tradition. He stated that the Church does not identify with any single culture but enters into communion with various cultures to recognize truth, beauty, and goodness.

The Pope noted that the Council document values education and access to cultural goods, specifically emphasizing the duty to promote the participation of women in cultural life. He also called on theologians to cooperate with researchers in other disciplines and encouraged Christians to pursue intellectual formation alongside their spiritual growth.