Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the Theological-Pastoral Congress on the Guadalupan Event held in Mexico City. The Pope presented Our Lady of Guadalupe as a model for authentic inculturation and a criterion for the Church’s evangelizing mission. The congress, held in preparation for the 2031 Jubilee marking 500 years since the apparitions, was promoted by several international and Mexican religious bodies. Leo XIV stated that authentic inculturation involves assuming and purifying cultures to become places of encounter with Christ, rather than imposing abstract ideas. The message stressed that evangelization means fostering a living relationship with Jesus Christ that shapes personal and communal life.
10 days ago
Pope Leo XIV sent a message dated February 5, 2026, to the Theological-Pastoral Congress on the Guadalupan Event in Mexico City, held February 24-26.1 2
The congress, organized by groups including the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, prepares for the 2031 Jubilee marking 500 years since the apparitions to Saint Juan Diego.1
Inculturation involves God entering human experience to foster a living relationship with Jesus Christ.1
It assumes, purifies, and elevates cultures as places of encounter with Christ, without coercion or absolutizing any culture.1 2
The Guadalupan event at Tepeyac Hill exemplifies proclaiming the Gospel while preserving Christian revelation's integrity.1
Our Lady of Guadalupe demonstrates cultures being transfigured into spaces for Christ, not canonized or dismissed.2
The Gospel does not submit to or identify with any culture; no culture is the ultimate criterion of faith.1 2
Pope Leo XIV rejects "relativistic accommodation," stressing transformation by Christ's Paschal Mystery.2
Christianity has inculturated since St. Paul's preaching, through figures like Justin Martyr, Augustine, and Cyril and Methodius.2
The concept echoes St. Paul VI's Evangelii nuntiandi and gained prominence post-Vatican II.2
In urban, pluralistic societies, faith transmission cannot be presumed; catechesis must foster mature discipleship.1
This aligns with the 2007 Aparecida Document, urging engagement with cultural challenges.1
Inculturation: authentic Gospel integration without cultural distortion
Inculturation involves the Church weaving the Gospel into a culture's fabric, like leaven transforming dough from within without altering its essence—renewing good elements while purifying distortions .
It demands discernment to integrate authentic values, ensuring the faith's integrity remains intact .
What might be a sign that inculturation is succeeding rather than leading to compromise?