Pope Leo Meets With Members of the St. Andrew School of Evangelization

Vatican City, Aug. 29, 2025: Pope Leo XIV met with members of the St. Andrew School of Evangelization during an audience at the Vatican on Friday. The meeting took place on the feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, during which the Pope offered his blessings to the Catholic ministry composed of both lay people and clergy dedicated to spreading the Gospel.

In his address to the members during the audience, Pope Leo stated that the life and ministry of St. John the Baptist serves as an example for modern-day evangelizers. Citing the Gospel of John, he reminded the gathering that John the Baptist bore witness to Christ, saying, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

The Pope emphasized that the essence of evangelization lies in bearing witness to one's personal encounter with God.

“If we carefully reread the first chapters of the fourth Gospel,” the Pope noted, “we can discover what is the key of every school of evangelization: to bear witness to what has been contemplated, to the encounter one has had with the God of life.”

Drawing from the First Letter of St. John, the Pope reiterated that the mission of the Church and every Christian is rooted in testimony: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.”

Pope Leo encouraged members of the St. Andrew School of Evangelization to live out their baptismal mission so that “everyone may come to know and love Christ.” He invited them to look to the saints, who, like John the Baptist, lived as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, manifesting Him in words and works of goodness.

Concluding his address, the Pope invoked the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, on the group praying that she may guide them with renewed hope in their evangelizing mission.

Founded to unite clergy and lay people in spreading the Gospel, the St. Andrew School of Evangelization draws its name from the Apostle Andrew, who first brought his brother Peter to Christ. Its mission statement reflects this example: “to follow Andrew's example in finding people like Peter who can love, serve, and proclaim the Lord better than ourselves.”

Courtesy: Vatican News