The Vatican is preparing to publish a new document examining how the Catholic faith can be effectively transmitted in a rapidly changing world.
The document, titled Venite ad Me, or “Come to Me” in Latin, is expected to be released in mid-October by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Document responds to growing challenges
A source within the dicastery with direct knowledge of the document’s contents told ACI Prensa that the text will explore different approaches that could help dioceses reflect on the difficulties and opportunities involved in sharing faith in Jesus Christ.
The initiative comes as Catholic communities in many parts of the world face growing challenges in passing the faith on to new generations and to people who may have little connection with the Church.
The Vatican source said the central question is how Catholics can successfully communicate the faith in the society and circumstances in which they currently live.
Francis initiative embraced by Leo XIV
The publication of Venite ad Me follows a request originally made by Pope Francis, an initiative that has subsequently been embraced by Pope Leo XIV.
Rather than prescribing a single method for evangelisation, the document is intended to encourage discussion and reflection within dioceses about the particular circumstances they face.
The approach recognises that the challenges surrounding faith transmission can vary considerably between countries, cultures and local Catholic communities.
Vatican seeks global Catholic input
The preparation of the document included consultation with bishops’ conferences around the world, giving the initiative an unusually broad international perspective.
According to the Vatican source, approximately 70% of the bishops’ conferences contacted responded during the consultation process.
The responses have helped shape a document that is expected to reflect a wide range of experiences and concerns surrounding the transmission of Christianity.
Different paths for different communities
The source described Venite ad Me as addressing “various paths and different possibilities” that can help dioceses consider how they might respond to the difficulties facing evangelisation.
That approach is significant because the Catholic Church operates in vastly different social and cultural environments. Strategies that may work in one part of the world may not necessarily produce the same results elsewhere.
The document therefore aims to stimulate local reflection rather than simply offer a universal formula for addressing declining or weakened transmission of the faith.
A renewed focus on evangelisation
The forthcoming publication places the question of evangelisation and faith formation firmly on the Vatican’s agenda.
Its central concern is how the message of Jesus Christ can continue to be communicated effectively in contemporary society, while taking into account the changing circumstances in which Catholics live and practise their faith.
With contributions from bishops’ conferences across the globe, Venite ad Me is expected to provide a foundation for further discussion among dioceses as the Church considers new ways of handing on the faith.
