Pope Leo XIV called on Catholic laypeople to take active roles in shaping public policy and political life during an address at the Vatican on September 18, 2026. Speaking to members of the Leo XIV International Study Center in the Consistory Hall, the pontiff emphasized that Christian humanism serves as a foundation for building fraternal relationships within society.

The pope acknowledged the vital contributions of lay faithful and religious orders to the development of Catholic social teaching. He noted that this doctrine did not emerge in isolation but grew from the lived experience of believers engaging with the world.

“The Church’s social doctrine also emerged from this matrix,” Leo said in the Vatican’s Consistory Hall.

The study center, which hosted approximately 50 attendees, was founded within the Order of St. Augustine in October 2025. It is dedicated to examining the life and magisterium of Pope Leo XIV. The organization was formally established under Italy’s “third sector” laws in December 2025 and is based in Florence.

The center’s mission includes promoting reflection on how Catholic social teaching applies to contemporary challenges. It maintains collaborative ties with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy and the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum. Additionally, the center engages in dialogue with universities, academic institutions, public bodies, civil society organizations, ecclesial institutions, and networks of associations.

Pope Leo XIV encouraged the group to foster formation for civic engagement both in Italy and globally. He referenced his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te and his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas as key texts guiding this work.

“Love binds in order to liberate, unites in order to generate, and commits in order to build,” he said.