EDUCATORS must anchor their teaching vocation on the “four pillars” of interiority, unity, love and joy, Pope Leo XIV emphasized in his address on the Jubilee of the World of Education at St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 31.
Speaking before 15,000 teachers and students from around the world, the pope said the four values should become the “key elements” in their teaching, citing his experiences as a teacher in schools of the Order of Saint Augustine.
“Truth does not spread through sounds, walls and corridors, but in the profound encounter between people, without which any educational endeavor is doomed to fail,” Leo said, reflecting on interiority.
He reminded teachers that good facilities are not enough to be good educators, but emphasized that the teacher “within” is more important than physical spaces.
The pope also urged educators to help students “rediscover” their inner selves in an age “dominated by technological screens and filters,” reminding them that education begins in the heart and is sustained by authentic relationships.
The pope warned that “damaging the social and cultural role of educators” would jeopardize the future, adding that the undervaluation of teachers in modern society must be addressed with love.
Contemplating on joy, he stressed the importance of educating “with a smile,” and seeking to “awaken smiles in the depths of the students’ souls.”
He warned that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital learning must never replace the joy of human encounter and the warmth of shared growth.
Ivan Efreaim Gozum, an instructor from the Institute of Religion, said the pope’s message “can inspire current and future educators to form a culture of dialogue and hope” by reminding them that the true essence of education is not only about transferring knowledge but about nurturing the whole person.
“The Holy Father’s call to rediscover the ‘master within’ encourages teachers to see education as a shared journey of truth and transformation rather than a one-way process,” Gozum said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
He said moves to take out humanities courses and reduce philosophy and critical thinking subjects in the curriculum reflected a wrong view of education as “a mere transmission of knowledge rather than holistic formation.”
“The human side of education, which is crucial to the Catholic mission, is being forgotten,” he said.
Echoing the pope’s reflection on AI, the theology instructor said teachers must always “put the human person at the center.”
“We always tend to forget the importance of the human person because we focus on technical skills and knowledge transmission,” he said.
Organized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Jubilee of the World of Education gathered educators from around the world in Rome on Oct. 27 to Nov. 1. #
