Pope Leo XIV says the Church cannot close its eyes to the need for help, especially by young people, as he addresses participants in the World Jubilee of Education in St Peter's Square, saying interiority, unity, love and hope will become key elements of educational practice.
Pope says that true teachers teach with a smile, and his challenge is to awaken a smile deep in the souls of his students. According to him, today's educational environment is showing signs of widespread internal weakness at every age. “We cannot close our eyes to these silent cries for help. Instead we must try to identify their deeper causes.”
The Pope also warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its technological and standardized knowledge, risks alienating already isolated students even further, giving them the illusion that they are not needed by others – or worse, that they are not worthy of them.
The Pope said the role of the teacher is one of human connection. “The joy of the educational process is extremely human, a flame that binds souls together and makes them one.”
Quoting a saying of Saint Augustine, the Pope reminded his audience that it is a mistake to think that beautiful words or well-equipped classrooms, laboratories and libraries are enough to teach students. “These are merely the means and the physical space, useful indeed, but the teacher is within; the deep encounter between individuals – without which every educational proposal fails.”
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According to Pope Leo, students today need help getting in touch with their inner self and rising to the challenge of superficiality in a world dominated by screens and technological filters. “Only this humble and shared effort, which takes the form of an educational project in a school setting, can bring students and teachers closer to the truth.”
The Pope also urged teachers to show love towards students and said merely sharing knowledge is not enough. He said that teaching will be truly fruitful only when it involves love; Not only in its content, but also in the charity it expresses.
“Teaching can never be separated from love, and one of the challenges of our society today is that we no longer adequately value the immense contribution that teachers and educators make to the community in this regard.”
