Pope Leo XIV has said that Catholic school teachers should be “models in life" as well as "models of faith" during what he described as a teacher's "pilgrimage of discipleship". He also urged the students under their care to try and listen to "God's voice" calling to their young hearts. The pontiff said students will “look to you particularly as to how you teach and how you live". The Pope told the young people to “remember that God has created each one of you with a purpose and a mission in this life. Use this opportunity for listening, for prayer, so that you may hear more clearly God’s voice calling you deep within your hearts.”

“I would add that today, so often, we lose the ability to listen – to really listen. We listen to music, we have our ears flooded constantly with all kinds of digital input, but sometimes we forget to listen to our own hearts. And it’s in our hearts that God speaks to us, that God calls us and invites us to know him better and to live in his love.”