General Audience, 28 October 2026

Pope Leo XIV addressed the relationship between faith and culture during a general audience in Saint Peter's Square on October 28, 2026. Continuing a series of catecheses on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, the Pope focused on the seventh section of the pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes.

The Pope stated that the connection between faith and culture is rooted in the Incarnation. He explained that because the divine Word became flesh, faith is an embodied reality that is interwoven with the culture in which it exists. He noted that faith is called to become culture by reaching people within their daily environments, including their traditions, arts, science, and language.

Pope Leo XIV observed that the Catholic Church has historically supported the Gospel through the establishment of schools and universities, noting that medieval universities emerged from the Church and contributed to Western civilization. He said that the progress of knowledge and culture creates new questions that prompt believers to explain their faith.