---
title: Pope Leo XIV urges faith to become culture in general audience
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/pope-leo-xiv-urges-faith-to-become-culture-in-general-audience
published: 2026-10-31T17:49:06+00:00
language: en
section: World Church
source: https://www.vaticannews.va/ko/pope/news/2026-10/papa-udienza-cultura-fede.html
organizations: Catholic Church, Second Vatican Council
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Pope Leo XIV urges faith to become culture in general audience

Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on October 28, 2026, during a general audience. The pontiff emphasized that Christian faith must become a culture to reach every person effectively. This address focused on the relationship between faith and culture as outlined in the Second Vatican Council's documents.

The Pope referenced the pastoral constitution Gaudium et spes, specifically its second part and second chapter. This section of the council's text addresses the interaction between Christian belief and human culture. The Catholic Church has historically established schools to support the human, cultural, and spiritual growth of men and women worldwide. Medieval universities emerged within the Church and contributed decisively to the development of Western civilization.

Cultural and intellectual progress raises new and deeper questions that challenge believers to explain and justify their faith. Various cultural expressions reveal the spiritual dimension of humanity. These expressions help open hearts to questions about the meaning of the world and human existence, preparing people to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The relationship between faith and culture is grounded in the mystery of the Incarnation. Because the Word of God became human and lived among people, faith is an incarnate reality deeply intertwined with the culture in which it is rooted.

Faith is called to become culture by approaching people through their own languages, traditions, religious sensibilities, arts, poetry, thought, and science. Faith does not identify itself with any single culture, allowing it to incarnate within all cultures. It dwells within culture and shapes it from the inside. This process follows the example of Jesus Christ, manifesting in love, service, and a filial attitude toward God as Father. The Church accepts what is good, beautiful, and true in diverse cultures to incarnate and transmit the Gospel message.

The Church holds a universal mission and is not bound by exclusive ties to any specific nation, state, or custom. While maintaining its own traditions, the Church engages with various cultures, enriching both itself and those cultures through this exchange. The Church encourages culture because it is good in itself and serves the fulfillment of the human vocation in this world. Gaudium et spes calls the international community to ensure everyone has access to basic cultural benefits and to overcome illiteracy and lack of educational opportunities.

The council declared that conditions must be created so that everyone capable of higher education can actually receive it. It is the duty of all to recognize and promote women's necessary participation in cultural life. Education must aim for the integration of knowledge, even when living conditions change. Christians must lead in realizing this wise integration within themselves. Possessing answers to fundamental questions through revelation does not exempt Christians from the duty to patiently acquire intellectual and cultural competence. Knowledge of humanity and scientific knowledge must develop alongside the content of faith.

The council made a special appeal to theologians, urging them to cooperate with experts in other disciplines. Theological research must pursue deep knowledge of revealed truth while engaging with contemporary times to help people with diverse academic backgrounds attain more complete knowledge of the faith. The document advises believers not to view the world, culture, and human expressions with a spirit of opposition or hostility. Instead, believers should live intimately with their contemporaries and strive to fully understand their ways of thinking and feeling as expressed through culture. Achieving a mature and responsible synthesis between faith and culture is essential for living out the Christian vocation and for testifying to faith in the world in a credible manner.