Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for charity to heal societal divisions and uphold human dignity.
The pontiff held a private audience on Monday with the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret, an international community of nuns founded after the French Revolution. The community, dedicated to serving the poor, is also marking the 200th anniversary of Thouret's death this year.
In his address, Leo praised Thouret for establishing the community and encouraged others to continue her legacy of charity to promote human dignity.
"In this regard, I would like to emphasize another important aspect of the charismatic legacy left to you by your saintly Foundress: to pay attention to the integral good, spiritual and temporal, of one's neighbor," Leo said.
"I mention this because, in a society such as ours, which tends to fragment the person, dividing people not only from one another but also, and more gravely, within themselves, this dimension of charity is fundamental for the restoration, promotion and authentic respect for the dignity of every person, especially the poorest and most in need. Treasure it, nurture it and spread it," the pope added.
Leo also reflected on the theme the sisters chose for their general chapter, "In Christ, the roots; in the world, the mission," and encouraged them, like Thouret, to put Christ at the center of their charitable work.
"To be rooted in Christ means, in fact, following the example of Saint Jeanne Antide, to place Him alone at the center of one's existence and thoughts, growing accustomed to sensing and celebrating His presence at every moment, confident that, united to Him, we will grow ever closer to one another and be better able to help others according to His plans," Leo said.
Sometimes referred to in France as the "sisters of the soup kitchen," the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne-Antide Thouret were approved by Pope Pius VII in 1819. Following nationalist pressure in France, the order split into branches in France and Italy before reuniting in 1954, and now operates in over 25 countries worldwide.
