Pope Leo XIV dedicated his Wednesday General Audience to the dignity of the human person, urging Christians to defend it in every circumstance with “the light and strength of the Gospel.”
Continuing his reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, the Pope said recognition of fundamental human rights represents one of the most important achievements in human history.
However, he warned, humanity’s journey towards the full recognition of human dignity remains incomplete, since old and new contradictions continue to obstruct it.
READ THE FULL TEXT OF POPE LEO’S CATECHESIS HERE
Pope Leo said the Church contributes to this journey by recalling that dignity arises from the very being of each person.
Quoting his encyclical Magnifica humanitas, he stressed that every human being is “planned and willed by God” for communion with Him, with others and with creation.
“Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made,” he said. “Instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of His unfailing love.”
The Pope explained that this infinite dignity is rooted in humanity’s creation in the image of God.
Human beings are capable of knowing and loving our Creator, while the rest of creation is entrusted to our responsible care.
Christ, he added, reveals the ultimate foundation of this dignity by revealing humanity to itself and making known to us our highest calling.
Pope Leo went on to say that human dignity can never be understood in isolation.
“To be a person means to perceive oneself as a gift to be shared, growing and maturing through acceptance, reciprocity and service,” he said.
Dignity therefore entails both personal responsibility and solidarity with others. It calls for mutual care and for resistance to the many forms of manipulation that distort the understanding of the human person.
The Pope acknowledged that humanity remains wounded by sin and divided within itself, caught in a struggle between good and evil.
Yet, he said, Christians can face this fragility with hope because Christ came to free, strengthen and renew humanity from within.
Citing Gaudium et Spes, Pope Leo also rejected any separation between body and soul, recalling that the human person “though made of body and soul, is one.”
Treating the body as an object that can be used or disposed of arbitrarily, he said, constitutes a denial of human dignity.
The body must instead be regarded as good and worthy of honour, since it was created by God and destined for resurrection.
The Pope then highlighted intelligence, conscience, and freedom as three essential expressions of human dignity. Intelligence seeks truth, conscience gives unity and meaning to life, and freedom allows people to take responsibility for our decisions.
Pope Leo concluded by recalling that the Holy Spirit frees us from fear and confirms our dignity as children of God.
“Created in God’s image, through Christ and for His sake, we have received a unique and indelible dignity,” he said. “Let us commit ourselves to promoting and defending it always.”
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