THE TIME FOR COMMITTED LAYPEOPLE
Monday, 18th August 2025
The time for committed laypeople has arrived. This is not the time to remain silent or accept things as if nothing can change. It is time to look up, listen to the voice of the Spirit, and courageously assume the mission that Christ entrusted to his Church: to serve, transform, and bring hope where darkness has settled. This is the time for men and women who truly believe in the Gospel, who know that faith is not confined within walls, but is brought to life in culture, in politics, in the economy, in institutions, and in every corner where human dignity is wounded.
After more than twenty years of history, the International Academy of Catholic Leaders is entering a stage of maturity and profound renewal. We have traveled a long road, marked by challenges, joys, and life lessons that have shaped us. Today, we feel the Spirit urging us to take a further step, to renew our forms and our language to reach further without losing our roots. The essential, however, remains intact: the commitment to the Gospel, to the truth, and the Church's mission in the world.
From its origins, the Academy was born with a certainty that continues to burn like a living flame: Christian lay leadership is a force that must be awakened and deployed boldly. For too long, the voice and action of the laity have been left in the background. Even so, we do not view clericalism as an obstacle, but rather as an opportunity for a more vibrant, open, and united Church, as recent pontiffs have called for. Pope Francis calls us to be a Church that goes forth, that listens, that welcomes, that offers space to the laity so that, through their witness and service, they may renew social and political life from within.
We want leaders with a pure heart, who do not seek power for their own benefit. Latin America and the world have seen too many leaders who, despite being trained in Catholic universities, ended up being trapped by corruption, selfishness, and ambition. We were not born to repeat those mistakes, but to offer a true alternative, a school of life and commitment where leadership is lived as service and dedication.
Such leadership is not born of improvisation. We need men and women with Christian character, with transparency, and the certainty that serving others is the only way to exercise legitimate authority. We want leaders who listen, who work for the common good, and who remain consistent even when facing obstacles. Spiritual vitality, humility in management, and the ability to build with others are virtues that must be present before entering the Academy. Still, here they find a space to grow, mature, and become a living force. The Word of God is our compass, the Bible and Tradition are the foundation, and the Eucharist is the nourishment that gives life and sustains every step.
We believe that Christian leadership is forged in the union of three inseparable realities: the pastoral accompaniment of the Church, because no Christian leader can walk without the voice of their pastors; the intellectual rigor of universities, with their critical capacity and formative mission; and the real life of institutions, where leadership becomes concrete service and embodied commitment. The Academy does not replace any of these realities, but rather unites them, complements them, and places itself at their service so that together they can form leaders capable of transforming history.
Our vision is sustained by values that are living pillars. We believe in collaboration, because the path is never traveled alone. Walking alongside the bishops, working with universities, and cooperating with institutions is part of our identity. Saint Paul reminds us: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Cor 12:12). True Christian leadership is born of encounter and communion.
Integrity is essential. There can be no leadership without consistency, without a life that backs up every word. Jesus teaches us: “Let your yes be yes, and your no, no” (Mt 5:37). We want leaders who do not bow to the pressure of power or the temptations of empty success, but who live faithfully to the truth, whatever the cost.
Creativity is also one of our hallmarks. Today's world needs new responses. It is not enough to repeat what has already been done; we must forge new paths and bring the Gospel to places where it seems to have no place, such as art, culture, politics, and institutions. Scripture reminds us: “Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it?” (Is 43:19).
Courage is essential. Leading in the name of Christ demands a courage that does not yield to fear or rejection. We want leaders who are capable of stepping forward when others remain silent, who dare to defend justice and truth, even when they are unpopular. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn 4:18).
Responsibility defines us. A true leader does not make excuses or seek blame; they assume their role with honesty and take responsibility for the consequences of their decisions. We believe that only responsible leadership can build a just and dignified future for all. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” (Lk 12:48).
Active hope is another pillar of our leadership. It is not about passive waiting, but a deep conviction that God continues to work in history. We want leaders who look at the world with confidence, who build bridges, and who know how to see opportunities even in the midst of crises. “Always rejoice in hope” (Rom 12:12).
Freedom of heart and action is indispensable. A Christian leader cannot compromise their conscience or commitment to the truth for partisan interests or the sake of convenience. We want leaders who are free, who serve society without owing favors to any erroneous policy or any power that conditions their witness. This freedom enables us to discern, act righteously, and work for the common good without constraints. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Gal 5:1).
Finally, we seek transformation. We do not want leaders who conform to the system, but men and women who renew it with the power of faith and truth. Saint Paul exhorts us: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This transformation originates from the heart and extends to social structures, making them more humane and just.
We live in a time of opportunity. The Academy wishes to open itself more than ever to dialogue with all who seek the common good. Wherever a bishop trusts in our mission and allows a new headquarters to be established, an opportunity for change arises. Wherever a university opens its doors to us, an alliance between faith and knowledge flourishes. Wherever an institution listens to us, a real possibility that the common good may be the horizon of all endeavor is born for us.
Christian leadership is not a privilege. It is service, it is the cross, it is a mission. We want to respond to Pope Francis' call to go to the peripheries, and to the spirit of Pope Leo XIII, who reminds us of the need for a heart open to love and care for others. Our commitment is clear: to form leaders who do not give up, who live the Eucharist as strength and the Word as light, who dare to transform the structures of power to place them at the service of the people.
The Academy is not here to shine alone, but to make the Gospel shine in the lives of those who lead. We invite bishops, universities, and all communities to journey with us in building a future where the laity, strengthened by their faith and formation, courageously take on the task of renewing society from within. We believe in a living Church that listens to and trusts its people. We want leaders who do not seek applause, but justice, who do not benefit from the people, but serve them with dedication and love. This is our dream and our mission: to be a seed of hope, a bridge between faith, knowledge, and action, and to place all this at the service of the Church and the world.
