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Pope Leo’s address to The Cartel Association of Catholic German Student Societies
General Audience Hall, Vatican City – 5 June 2026
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Pope Leo’s address
Dear brothers and sisters,
I am pleased to greet all of you, The Cartel Association of Catholic German Student Societies, who are gathering for a joint conference, in the Cartell assembly, for the first time outside of Germany.
Your decision to come here to Rome, ad Petri Sedem, is motivated by the Catholic faith that defines you, by the communion that binds us as disciples of Jesus and by the cultural activities you undertake.
I would like to briefly reflect on these three aspects to strengthen the bond of fraternity that unites you and your shared dedication to the Church.
1. Regarding your Catholic identity,
Your firm commitment to the faith is reflected in the four principles that guide your association: religio, scientia, amicitia and patria. (religion, science, friendship and country).
In the face of despotism and past ideologies, the Catholic faith has never merely been a veneer or a label, but rather a way of life to be shared in university and in work settings.
Like evangelical leaven, your fraternity continues to grow within scientific and political contexts as well as across various academic, professional and social circles.
This communal aspect of your activities benefits not only your country, but also all of Europe, with Germany is at the center.
You rightly add the cultural centrality of the human person to this geographical centrality.
The human person is a creature of God and the architect of his or her own life.
In the face of the challenges posed by the technological revolution, it is crucial to devote particular attention to the study and promotion of our shared humanity.
In their fundamental expression as male or female, human beings are relational and limited by nature and are therefore called to become a gift to others and a task for themselves.
Like the exercise of reason, the light of faith illuminates the promises and deceptions of the present time. It calls on each person to help build a just and peaceful society.
2. Regarding the spirit of communion that drives this initiative,
I am pleased to recall your motto: In certibus unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas.
In certain things, unity, in doubtful things, freedom, in all things, charity.
These words attest to the true foundation of your association: the critical dialogue and constant dedication that characterize it.
The relationship among association members is not limited to sharing knowledge; it matures into mutual respect.
It is not confined to ideas but rather becomes collaborative practice.
As followers of Christ, the one Lord and Master of life, you embody Catholic values in society, not as partisan flag-bearers, but as stewards of the common good of humanity.
In Germany, Italy, and around the world, it is the same Catholic faith that strengthens our cooperation.
We do not compromise with the trends of the moment or place individualistic preferences ahead of the Church’s common tradition.
In the spirit of fraternity, I encourage you to promote evangelizing culture. Your university organizations continually attract new young people because they exemplify passion, competence, and genuine Christian friendship.
3. What diverse cultural activities have you undertaken in various fields of study and work?
You have realized that it’s not just about pursuing a profession (Beruf), but about following a vocation (Berufung).
Indeed, the search for truth is a worthy pursuit and a valuable gift to pass on.
As we methodically pursue it, we understand that no field of study can be reduced to mere speculation.
Because study involves the exercise of both intellect and will, it is a commitment requiring self-discipline and conversion—a transformation of the mind that we cultivate by honing our tools of the trade like fertile soil.
By doing our very best, we can become responsible stewards in society without being seduced by money-focused careers.
Instead, let us recognize that culture is humanity’s greatest good: truth sets us free, while falsehood distorts names and things. In the face of what dehumanizes people, especially the least among us—the poor and the sick—I ask you to be witnesses to Christian humanism.
In this regard, I invite you to deeply reflect on the words of Pope Benedict XVI, a distinguished former member of your association. said: “develop a coherent “ecology of man. Man has a nature that he must respect” (Address to the Bundestag, 22 September 2011).
Integral ecology, which is very important to Pope Francis, shows that the world is full of meaning and is not an inert entity that can be shaped arbitrarily or by a thirst for power.
We are not random aggregates of particles. we are bodies open to transcendence.
By directing our thirst for life, justice, wisdom, and love, we discover the truth of knowing, doing, and believing together.
After all, human beings are always seeking God, who has revealed himself to us as our Savior.
Therefore, it is precisely through our activities that we develop a relationship with God, which becomes a path to holiness.
Indeed, the cultural mission of Christians is to guide society and history toward the pinnacle of a God-centered life.
Through the intercession of Saint Boniface, the evangelizer of Germany, may you bear witness to the wisdom of the Gospel in German and European societies.
With esteem for your associations, I gladly impart my apostolic blessing upon all of you and your loved ones. Thank you. Let us pray together: Pater noster …
