Pope Leo XIV: Asking Questions Is Essential to the Journey of Faith

Vatican, Oct 9, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has called on students and professors at Rome’s pontifical universities to pursue truth through reason, critical thinking and collaboration, emphasising that intellectual inquiry is an essential part of Christian faith.

The Pope celebrated Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, 8 October, for the opening of the academic year of ecclesiastical institutions of higher education, bringing together Rome’s pontifical academic community.

Study as a Service to Faith and Truth

Pope Leo encouraged students and teachers to recognise their academic work as a service to the Church and to others, saying they should “consider study as service to faith and truth, for your own good and for that of so many brothers and sisters for whom the Lord gave his life”.

He underlined the role of reason and questioning in Christian formation, stating: “Reason, the act of asking questions and putting them into words in the light of the Word of God and the Tradition of the Church," the Pope stressed, "are an essential part of the journey of faith in following Jesus Christ”.

He expressed the hope that the new academic year would strengthen the community’s shared ecclesial mission, describing it as “a truly ecclesial moment, in which being gathered around the Lord’s table nourishes our shared mission”.

Intelligence, Memory and Critical Thinking

Reflecting on the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, proclaimed during the Mass, the Pope highlighted the importance of intellectual engagement in faith and mission. He described the passage as “a call to intelligence, memory and critical thinking" and stressed that intelligence is “decisive for faith and mission”.

He encouraged the academic community to pursue knowledge collectively rather than for individual advancement, saying: “no one will teach, study or carry out research solely for themselves, but with others, for others and, above all, with the Lord and for the Lord”.

Pope Leo also warned against those who misuse religious teaching to advance their own purposes. “In every age, there is no shortage of false teachers who exploit the religious fervour of many believers for their own ends, often leading them to radicalise certain aspects of the teaching they have received at the expense of the whole, which is Christ and his Gospel.”

The Pope further explained that intelligence involves more than accumulating information. “Intelligence must therefore become memory: not simply by juxtaposing data, as an algorithm now does more quickly than we can, but by remembering experiences, with the resonances that only the human soul can perceive, and by entering more deeply into contact with their goodness.”

Friendship and Sharing in Academic Life

Pope Leo encouraged students and professors to value the friendships they develop during their years of study. “Cultivate friendship at university,” he urged, describing it as a "precious gift" and "all the more so when it is lived out in the shared search for truth in Christ.”

He also called on them to connect their academic pursuits with everyday life and their faith. “Integrate life into your studies and your studies into life, according to the logic of the Incarnation, without which Revelation falls silent.”

Emphasising the need to make educational opportunities accessible to others, he said: “many people do not have the same opportunities for education that we have had. Let us open the door; let us not close ourselves off.”

An International Community of Students

Addressing the international character of Rome’s pontifical institutions, the Pope encouraged students to build relationships across cultures and continents rather than simply sharing classrooms.

“Look around you: the whole world is present in your lecture halls. Alongside you are people from Africa, Asia, America, Europe and Oceania. Do not be content simply to sit alongside one another: meet one another, talk to one another, listen to one another, share your experiences of the Church, pray together, spend time relaxing together, and form friendships that will accompany you throughout your lives.”

Around 11,750 students from across the world are enrolled in Rome’s pontifical universities, colleges and institutes. They include priests, seminarians, religious and lay people who come to the Italian capital for higher studies and research.

Concluding his homily, Pope Leo encouraged those present to make the most of their time in Rome, recalling the witness of the apostles Peter and Paul in the city.

“It was here that Peter professed his faith unto martyrdom. It was here that Paul, the great universal translator of the Christian experience for so many peoples, languages and cultures, completed his race while keeping the faith.”

Courtesy: Vatican News