Pope Leo on May 18 met with members of the Board of Governors of Catholic Extension Society and their families. Addressing them in the Vatican ahead of the Solemnity of Pentecost, the pope said he hoped their pilgrimage would deepen their prayer and strengthen their communion with the successor of Peter and the universal church.
Reflecting on the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Leo recalled how the disciples, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, began proclaiming Christ to “every nation under heaven,” forming communities rooted in fraternity, prayer, and the Eucharist.
He noted that the same missionary spirit inspired Father Francis Clement Kelley more than 120 years ago, as he sought to bring the sacraments and support of the wider Catholic community to isolated faith communities across the United States.
Founded in 1905, Catholic Extension Society was established to support Catholic communities living in financially poor and remote areas of the United States.
Over the decades, the Chicago-based organization has helped fund churches, seminaries, schools and pastoral programs in underserved dioceses, while also supporting missionary outreach in places such as Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Elevated to the status of a pontifical society, Catholic Extension continues to focus on strengthening local churches and accompanying communities often lacking resources and pastoral support.
“That missionary enthusiasm is still needed today,” Pope Leo said, thanking the society for its continued commitment to poorer Catholic communities both in the United States and abroad.
The pope went on to offer particular praise for the organization’s work in Cuba and Puerto Rico, describing its support for these communities as “a beautiful expression of the universality of the church.”
Quoting “Dilexi Te,” Pope Leo reminded those present that “love for our neighbor is tangible proof of the authenticity of our love for God.”
He also encouraged the society’s outreach to disadvantaged people and immigrant families in the United States, stressing “it is imperative that our brothers and sisters experience the warmth of a community marked by the presence of Christ,” he said.
Reflecting again on the witness of the early church, Pope Leo underlined how authentic Christian communities naturally care for those who suffer and those most in need. “Love for the poor,” he said, “can therefore be understood as the evangelical hallmark of a church faithful to the heart of God.”
At the same time, he emphasized that the mission of Catholic Extension goes beyond responding to material hardship. By helping to build vibrant communities of faith, the society offers people the support and spiritual strength needed to face life’s challenges with hope.
These communities, the pope continued, also become fertile ground for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life, nurturing “new laborers for the harvest for years to come.”
Bringing his address to a close, Pope Leo encouraged those present to persevere in serving the Lord “with gladness and generosity,” motivated by love of God and neighbor, and trusting that the Father “who sees in secret will reward you.”