The laity are “living stones in the Church and witnesses in the world.”
In this week’s Wednesday audience, Pope Leo XIV continues his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council and ‘Lumen gentium,’ reflecting on the identity of the laity.
The laity are not simply those who are not part of the clergy or the consecrated life—they are the body of Christ. By virtue of baptism, the lay faithful participate in the priesthood of Christ.
The mission of the laity is not confined to the Church, but extends to the world—in the workplace, in civil society, in all human relationships—wherever they, through their choices, show the beauty of Christian life.
“The world needs to ‘be permeated by the spirit of Christ, and more effectively fulfill its purpose in justice, charity, and peace.’ And this is possible only through the contribution, service, and witness of the laity!”


