Consecrated Life Urged to Remain a Steady Presence Amid Global Fragility
The leadership of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has issued a letter addressed to consecrated men and women worldwide, emphasizing the enduring role of consecrated life in regions marked by instability, conflict and hardship. The message, sent to those living and serving across diverse cultural and social contexts, expresses gratitude for a vocation described as both demanding and hopeful. Acknowledging that consecrated life is often lived under conditions of strain and uncertainty, the letter affirms its value as a sign of fidelity and perseverance. The authors highlight that this form of life continues to offer witness not through prominence or power, but through steadfast presence, particularly where communities experience suffering, displacement or social fragmentation.
Reflecting on encounters from the past year, the Dicastery’s leadership recalls pastoral visits and direct engagement with consecrated persons living in complex environments. These include regions affected by armed conflict, widespread poverty, forced migration and political instability, as well as areas where Christians live as minorities. According to the letter, these situations reveal the distinctive nature of consecrated life as a presence that does not withdraw when conditions deteriorate. Instead, consecrated men and women are called to remain alongside wounded individuals and communities, offering accompaniment rather than solutions. The letter notes that such presence takes different forms depending on local realities, but becomes especially meaningful where social and political pressures undermine trust and erode hope among the population.
The letter emphasizes that remaining in difficult circumstances should not be mistaken for passivity or resignation. It describes this choice as an expression of active hope, capable of generating gestures that foster peace and reconciliation. In practical terms, this may involve promoting dialogue where hostility prevails, protecting the vulnerable, or choosing patience and listening over confrontation. The Dicastery stresses that this commitment is not solely personal or communal, but carries a broader prophetic significance for the Church and society. Through their daily fidelity, consecrated persons are presented as living reminders that God’s presence persists even when institutions weaken and expectations collapse.
Different forms of consecrated life are highlighted as offering complementary expressions of this witness. Apostolic communities demonstrate closeness through service and engagement, contemplative life sustains hope through prayer and perseverance, and secular institutes embody the Gospel discreetly within professional and social environments. Other vocations are described as emphasizing fidelity, gratuitousness and the primacy of God, each contributing to a shared testimony shaped by love and commitment. Across these diverse expressions, the letter identifies a common calling to remain without abandoning others or retreating into silence, allowing life itself to become a meaningful word for the present moment in history.
The message situates this witness within a broader understanding of peace, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s repeated emphasis that peace is a demanding and daily journey rather than an abstract ideal. Peace, the letter explains, emerges from encounter, shared responsibility and patient dialogue, not from opposition or domination. By choosing closeness over conflict, consecrated life can become a tangible instrument of peace. Looking ahead to the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, the Dicastery encourages perseverance in this mission, entrusting consecrated men and women with the task of being a lasting presence and a quiet seed of peace wherever dignity is wounded and faith is tested.
