Pope Leo XIV addressed the annual assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) via a videomessage projected on August 12, during the group’s gathering at the Rosen Center in Orlando, Florida. According to Silere non possum, the message reached more than 1,300 major superiors, justice promoters, and congregational communicators attending the event, which ran from August 11 to August 14 under the theme “Many Charisms, One Spirit, One Call.”
Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes Synodal Unity in Orlando Address
The papal address focused heavily on cultivating communion amidst diverse community histories and apostolates. According to Silere non possum, Pope Leo XIV linked this call directly to synodality, recalling his opening address at the extraordinary consistory on June 26. In the message, the pontiff described religious as natural “experts in synodalità” due to their communal structures and lifestyle.
Founded in 1956, the LCWR represents roughly two-thirds of the approximately 35,000 women religious active in the United States. Silere non possum notes that the organization’s seventieth-anniversary gathering welcomed religious from various congregations across the American continent. Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude for the historical contributions of these institutes in education, the care of the poor and marginalized, and evangelization, while urging participants to rediscover the specific charisms of their founders.
Addressing Vocations and Overcoming Secularization
Turning to the future of consecrated life, Pope Leo XIV identified the promotion of vocations as an essential condition for authentic flourishing. According to Silere non possum, the pontiff acknowledged the ongoing pressures of secularization but pointed to a growing hunger for God. Referencing his recent apostolic journey to Spain and a June 9 prayer vigil, he stated that many young people and adults are rediscovering the Christian faith after periods of alienation, and he asked the assembled religious to help nurture that spiritual awakening.
The tone of the video message marks a notable chapter in the relationship between the Vatican and the LCWR. Between 2012 and 2015, the organization underwent a doctrinal verification under Pope Benedict XVI managed by Archbishop Peter Sartain, which ultimately concluded under Pope Francis in 2015 with a jointly approved report.