U.S. Catechists Meet Pope Leo XIV at Vatican Jubilee Gathering
A delegation of 27 U.S. catechists, including members from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican last month during the Jubilee of Catechists, a significant event leading up to the 2025 Jubilee Year.
The Jubilee of Catechists, held September 26-28, brought together approximately 20,000 faithful from over 115 countries to celebrate and reaffirm the importance of religious education. Sister Rosalía Meza, senior director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, described Pope Leo as “very humble, like Pope Francis,” and noted his attentiveness to each member of the group. This gathering underscores the Catholic Church’s renewed emphasis on evangelization and faith formation in a rapidly changing world.
Among the U.S. delegation was Nancy Nazarian-Medina, San Gabriel regional coordinator for the Office of Religious Education, and her mother, Lucy Nazarian-Medina, a long-serving catechist. Nazarian-Medina recalled feeling overwhelmed with emotion as the group awaited their audience with the pontiff, stating, “I was filled with both excitement and anxiety.” Pope Leo emphasized the vital role of laypeople in spreading the Gospel, telling the group, “The Church is not the bishops, the Church is not the priests, but we are the Church.” You can learn more about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Evangelization and Catechesis.
Sister Meza also had the opportunity to meet Antonia Salzano, mother of Saint Carlo Acutis, whose life and legacy are inspiring a new generation of Catholics. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently commissioned over 350 catechism leaders, signaling a resurgence in religious education following pandemic-related disruptions. As reported by the Catholic News Agency, Pope Francis proclaimed the 2025 Jubilee Year as a time for prayer, pilgrimage, and pardon.
Officials stated that the Vatican will continue to support and encourage catechists as they carry out their essential ministry of transmitting the Catholic faith.
