Why the Church provides Catholic Schools...
The primary reason why the Church provides Catholic schools is to be part of the Church’s mission in education, placing Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church at the centre of people’s lives.
As Pope Benedict XVI made clear in a speech to educators:
“Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.”
For the new liturgical year (starting Advent 2025/2026), Pope Leo XIV has emphasized deeper liturgical formation, a renewed focus on the Mass for the Care of Creation, promoting "sober solemnity," and continued implementation of liturgical reforms, urging vibrant, well-prepared celebrations, especially for lectors, to counter faith's loss of meaning.
In his 2025 Apostolic Letter, "Drawing New Maps of Hope", Pope Leo XIV outlines a comprehensive vision for Catholic education as a "living tradition" rather than a set of fixed formulae. He emphasises the need for a "courageous revision" of educational methods to meet contemporary challenges like rapid digitisation and social inequality. Pope Leo XIV also announced St. John Henry Newman as co-patron of the educational world, alongside St. Thomas Aquinas.
