Pope Leo XIV received this Monday, October 26, at the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the delegates of the Elective General Chapter of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret. During the meeting, the Pontiff highlighted the importance of keeping Christ at the center of consecrated life and of attending to both the spiritual and material needs of people, especially the poorest.
The Holy Father congratulated the new superior general of the congregation and recalled that the General Chapter constitutes «a privileged context for the action of the Holy Spirit for the good of the People of God.» He also valued the communal discernment carried out by the religious sisters during their days of work.
«Roots in Christ, Mission in the World»
Leo XIV dwelt especially on the motto chosen for the General Chapter, «Roots in Christ, Mission in the World,» which, as he explained, expresses the essence of religious consecration and the apostolate of the Sisters of Charity.
Following the example of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret, the Pope pointed out that taking root in Christ requires placing Him at the center of existence and recognizing His presence in every moment of life. He also recalled that union with the Lord strengthens communion among the religious sisters and their capacity to serve others.
The Pontiff also insisted on the need to attend to the integral good of persons, both spiritual and temporal. He warned that contemporary society tends to fragment the human being, separating people from one another and causing divisions within their own inner life.
In this context, he emphasized that charity is fundamental to recovering, promoting, and authentically respecting human dignity, especially that of the most needy.
A Congregation Present in 32 Countries
The audience took place during the bicentennial year of the death of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret, founder of the congregation. Leo XIV recalled the saint’s fidelity to the Successor of Peter, even when that fidelity entailed misunderstandings and renunciations.
The Pope also highlighted the expansion of the Sisters of Charity, currently present in 32 countries, where they carry out their mission with the collaboration of religious sisters, laypeople, young people, and volunteers.
At the conclusion, he encouraged the sisters to continue their work generously and entrusted them to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and their founder.
Below, we offer the full text of Pope Leo XIV’s greeting:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.
Dear sisters, welcome!
I receive you with great joy at this important moment for your Congregation. I greet the newly elected superior general, congratulate her, and entrust her to the Lord, together with the sisters entrusted with advising and assisting her in her service.
The General Chapter of a religious family is always a privileged context for the action of the Holy Spirit for the good of the People of God. In the days of grace you have lived, with an attitude of docility to His inspirations, you have exercised communal discernment, which is already in itself an edifying experience. The fruits of your listening—to God and among yourselves—are the most beautiful gift you bring me today: like a basket of first fruits that together we wish to offer to the Lord.
Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret had understood very well the importance of this «offering together» in the Church, manifesting throughout her life a great love and respect for the Successor of Peter, even at the cost of facing painful misunderstandings and renunciations for the good and unity of the persons entrusted to her.
Dear sisters, the theme you have chosen for your work is very beautiful: «Roots in Christ, Mission in the World.» It adequately describes the essence of your consecration and your apostolate. Having roots in Christ means, in effect, following the example of Saint Jeanne Antide, placing Him alone at the center of one’s existence and thoughts, becoming accustomed to feeling and celebrating His presence in every moment, trusting that, closely united to Him, we will be ever closer to one another and more capable of helping others according to His designs.
In this regard, I would like to emphasize another important aspect of the charismatic heritage that your holy founder has left you: attention to the integral good, spiritual and temporal, of one’s neighbor. I recall this because, in a society like ours, which tends to fragment man, dividing people not only from one another, but also, and more gravely, within themselves, this dimension of charity is fundamental to recovering, promoting, and authentically respecting the dignity of each person, especially the poorest and most needy (cf. Francis, apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, 186). Treasure it, cultivate it, and spread it.
Dearest sisters, in this bicentennial year of the birth into Heaven of holy Mother Thouret, it is consoling to note how much the Lord has blessed and accompanied your path over time. This is witnessed by the richness and variety of your apostolic expansion, today present in thirty-two countries, in which you keep alive the «charism of Charity» thanks to the work of religious sisters, laypeople, young people, volunteers, and collaborators of all ages and backgrounds.
Continue your work with generosity: it is precious in the eyes of God and of the Church. Thank you for what you do! Entrusting you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Saint Jeanne Antide, I bless you from my heart. Thank you.