Pope Francis says "Education is a long-term task...Even Jesus at the beginning did not have good results with his disciples, but he was patient..." to Jesuit Educators
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Audience with the Members of the International Commission on the Jesuit Educational Apostolate, 05.24.2024
This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the members of the International Commission on the Apostolate of Education of the Jesuits.
Speech that the Pope prepared for the occasion and which was delivered to those present at the Audience:
I want to thank you, on behalf of myself and the Church, for the work you do in the Jesuit schools and in the other schools associated with the mission, which have decided to join the apostolic effort of the Society of Jesus. It is true that Saint Ignatius and his first companions did not consider the importance of schools at the beginning of the founding of the Society. But it is also true that very soon they realized the immense evangelizing potential and welcomed it with enthusiasm and dedication. Without a doubt, Jesuit schools allowed the message of the gospel to continue to be heard among new generations, accompanied by the academic and intellectual rigor that characterizes them. But the center has been and must continue to be Jesus. That is why the Jesuits, through the curriculum and activities in schools, strived so that young people could come into contact with the gospel, with service to others and, thus, contribute to the common good. The Marian Congregations were a beautiful example of how Jesuit education wanted to invite its students to become agents of change and evangelizing agents in their context. It was about learning from a young age to discover God present in others, especially in the poor and the marginalized. That is true education, accompanying young people to discover the construction of the common good in service to others and in academic rigor.
Precisely, the New Global Educational Pact that I have promoted, wants to update the educational effort so that young people prepare themselves and begin to change the mentality of an education only for “my” personal success, into the mentality of an education that leads them to discover the true fullness of life, when personal gifts and abilities are used in collaboration with others, for the construction of a more human and fraternal society and world. We need to move from the culture of “I” to the culture of “we”, in which quality education is defined by its humanizing results and not by economic results. This means – as I have been repeating – putting the person at the center of the process. And it was what Father Arrupe frequently repeated to us when he insisted on “educating people for others.” Father Arrupe was very clear that the person for others is, par excellence, Jesus, the true man with and for others.
As you well know, the best way to educate is by example, modeling in ourselves what we want in our students. This is how Jesus educated his disciples. This is how we are called to educate in our schools. Therefore, everything you can do is important so that educators in our schools understand this call existentially. Putting the person at the center means putting educators at the center of training, offering them training and support that also helps them discover their potential and their deep calling to accompany others. Putting the person at the center means de-centering ourselves to perceive others, especially those who are on the margins of our societies, and who not only need our help, but have a lot to teach us and contribute to us. We all win when we welcome the poorest and most unprotected among us!
Of course, as I indicated in my letter when I confirmed the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, the first preference is essential to understand the meaning of the education of the Society, because without a true relationship of educators with the Lord it is not possible. nothing else possible. We have to insist on this. That is why I am glad that you are going to have the Yogyakarta International Seminar, to be able to deepen how we share with young people the treasure revealed in Jesus and so that they can experience its liberating and saving mystery. But they will only achieve it if they see in their educators - including parents, the first educators in families - that relationship with God and deep respect for others and creation. For them, our schools must also be educators of educators, teachers of teachers.
I am happy to count on you to promote a new global educational pact. Without this, our world, which already suffers from so much violence and polarization, will not be able to create a hopeful future or overcome the serious challenges that affect it and that force us to become more aware that we share the common home of our world. Educating is a task of sowing and, as sacred scripture says, many times “we sow through tears to reap between songs” (cf. Ps. 126, 5). Education is a long-term task, with patience, where the results are sometimes not clear; Even Jesus at the beginning did not have good results with his disciples, but he was patient, and he continues to be patient with us to teach us that educating is waiting, persevering and insisting with love.
As you well know, the best way to educate is by example, modeling in ourselves what we want in our students. This is how Jesus educated his disciples. This is how we are called to educate in our schools. Therefore, everything you can do is important so that educators in our schools understand this call existentially. Putting the person at the center means putting educators at the center of training, offering them training and support that also helps them discover their potential and their deep calling to accompany others. Putting the person at the center means de-centering ourselves to perceive others, especially those who are on the margins of our societies, and who not only need our help, but have a lot to teach us and contribute to us. We all win when we welcome the poorest and most unprotected among us!
Of course, as I indicated in my letter when I confirmed the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, the first preference is essential to understand the meaning of the education of the Society, because without a true relationship of educators with the Lord it is not possible. nothing else possible. We have to insist on this. That is why I am glad that you are going to have the Yogyakarta International Seminar, to be able to deepen how we share with young people the treasure revealed in Jesus and so that they can experience its liberating and saving mystery. But they will only achieve it if they see in their educators - including parents, the first educators in families - that relationship with God and deep respect for others and creation. For them, our schools must also be educators of educators, teachers of teachers.
I am happy to count on you to promote a new global educational pact. Without this, our world, which already suffers from so much violence and polarization, will not be able to create a hopeful future or overcome the serious challenges that affect it and that force us to become more aware that we share the common home of our world. Educating is a task of sowing and, as sacred scripture says, many times “we sow through tears to reap between songs” (cf. Ps. 126, 5). Education is a long-term task, with patience, where the results are sometimes not clear; Even Jesus at the beginning did not have good results with his disciples, but he was patient, and he continues to be patient with us to teach us that educating is waiting, persevering and insisting with love.
Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/24/0432/00896.html
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