Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council's document 'Dei Verbum' during the Wednesday General Audience. The Pope emphasized that the 'deposit' of the Word of God must be preserved by the Church as a guide through history. Sacred Scripture and Tradition are closely related, with Tradition being the living transmission of the Gospel guided by the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is described as a living, organic reality that develops and grows within Tradition, not something fossilized.
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Pope Leo XIV delivered his weekly general audience on January 28, 2026, in the Paul VI Hall, continuing his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum on Divine Revelation.1 2 3 4
This marked his third reflection on the document, focusing on the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Tradition.2 4
The Pope emphasized that Sacred Scripture and Tradition flow from the same divine source, merging into a unity under the Holy Spirit's guidance.1 2 3 4
They form "one sacred deposit of the Word of God," entrusted to the Church for preservation and interpretation.1 3 4
Pope Leo referenced two Gospel scenes: Jesus in the Upper Room promising the Holy Spirit to guide disciples into all truth (Jn 14:25-26; 16:13), and the Great Commission to teach all nations (Mt 28:19-20).2 4
These illustrate the intimate connection between Christ's words and their transmission through the centuries.1 2
The Word of God is "not fossilized" but a living, organic reality that develops and grows in Tradition, adapting to history while retaining integrity.1 2 3
The Church perpetuates this through teaching, life, worship, contemplation, study, and apostolic preaching.1 3 4
Pope Leo quoted St. Gregory the Great: "The Sacred Scriptures grow with the one who reads them."2 4
He cited St. Augustine on the singular Word unfolding through Scripture and saints, St. John Henry Newman on Christianity's dynamic growth like a seed, and invoked St. Thomas Aquinas on his feast day for deeper Scriptural understanding.2 3 4
The "deposit" imposes a duty to guard and transmit faith intact, serving as a lodestar amid life's complexities.1 3 4
Pope Leo urged the Church and faithful in all ministries to be living witnesses, contributing to souls' salvation.2 3
Investigate the dynamic interplay between Sacred Scripture and Tradition
In Catholic teaching, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are not separate or competing sources of revelation but form a single sacred deposit of God's Word, entrusted to the Church for the salvation of souls. They flow from the same divine wellspring—Christ's own revelation through words and deeds—and merge into a profound unity, communicating with and enriching one another to convey the fullness of divine truth. This dynamic interplay ensures that the Church's faith is nourished by both, with neither standing alone, as they together perpetuate the apostolic preaching in its integrity.
The Second Vatican Council's Dei Verbum articulates this interplay vividly: "Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine wellspring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal." Scripture is the Word of God consigned to writing under the Holy Spirit's inspiration, while Tradition transmits that same Word, entrusted by Christ and the Apostles to their successors, preserving, explaining, and proclaiming it faithfully. This mutual exchange means Tradition renders Scripture "more profoundly understood and unceasingly made active" in the Church, while Scripture provides the written anchor for Tradition's living transmission.
The Catechism echoes this: Tradition and Scripture "make up a single sacred deposit of the Word of God", distinct yet inseparable, like two streams from one source. Without this interplay, revelation would be incomplete; Scripture alone cannot yield the Church's full certainty about revealed truths. For instance, Tradition discerned the canon of Scripture itself, confirming which books belong to the inspired corpus.
Tradition is the Church's living transmission of revelation, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, perpetuating doctrine, life, worship, and belief across generations. It carries the "living memorial of God's Word," enabling spiritual interpretation under the Spirit's guidance. As Dei Verbum explains, the Church reads Scripture "within the living Tradition of the whole Church," where the Holy Spirit grants its deeper meaning.
This dynamic is essential for theology and preaching: Sacred theology rests on Scripture and Tradition as its foundation, with Scripture study as the "soul of sacred theology." Pastoral ministry, including homilies, draws nourishment from both. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that fidelity to the Church means entering the "current of the great Tradition," where Scripture is understood as God's Word only in the ecclesial context, guided by the Magisterium. The Fathers of the Church witness this Tradition's riches in belief and prayer.
Both must be "accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence." This pari pietatis affectu ac reverentia—a phrase rooted in St. Basil, Gratian, Trent, and Vatican II—underscores their equality. The Magisterium, as the Church's teaching authority, safeguards this deposit, interpreting Scripture in harmony with Tradition to prevent erroneous readings.
Controversies, such as whether Tradition adds "materially" to Scripture or constitutes a second "source," are clarified: Vatican II rejected "two sources" language, affirming one deposit where Tradition and Scripture interpenetrate under the Holy Spirit. Recent teachings, like Benedict XVI's, reaffirm this unity against individualistic interpretations.
The Church venerates Scripture as the Body of the Lord, offering it alongside Tradition as the "supreme rule of faith." God's Word is "living and active," supporting the Church, strengthening faith, and providing spiritual life. This interplay pulses through liturgy, where Scripture is proclaimed, and Tradition shapes its reception. From Leo XIII onward, the Magisterium has promoted biblical study within this framework, culminating in Dei Verbum's revival of the Word in ecclesial life.
The dynamic interplay of Scripture and Tradition forms an unbreakable unity: they communicate, interpret, and vitalize each other, guided by the Magisterium, to deliver revelation's fullness. This single deposit equips the Church for mission, ensuring the Gospel remains "whole and alive." Catholics are called to honor both with devotion, drawing from their shared riches for faith and life.