The role of lay people is central to the ongoing evolution of the Church, a theme heavily underscored in a recent webinar hosted by the Australian Cardijn Institute (ACI). Titled “Pope Leo on Lay People in the Church,” the online gathering featured Father Dr Max Vodola, Head of the Department of History at the Catholic Theological College in Melbourne. Father Vodola provided a comprehensive examination of Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium alongside the recent teachings of Pope Leo XIV.
A New Stage of Reception: Bite-Sized Catechesis
Father Vodola noted that the Church has entered a new phase of historicising the Second Vatican Council, as living eyewitnesses become fewer. Pope Leo, the second post-conciliar pope who did not participate directly in Vatican II, has heavily emphasised that the Council and synodality are normative for the Church today.
To reinforce this, Pope Leo launched a series of weekly, “bite-sized” catechesis documents tracking the Council’s riches. Father Vodola highlighted how these short messages articulate a harmonised, Augustinian vision of the Church—simultaneously an earthly community and a mystical body, open to everyone.
Co-Workers, Not Spectators
A core focus of the lecture was unpacking Chapter 4 of Lumen Gentium, which redefines the laity in positive, active terms rather than simply defining them by what they are not (i.e., non-clergy).
The discussion emphasised several crucial insights:
- The “Leaven” of the World: Lay people are called to permeate ordinary circumstances—family, work, and civil society—acting like leaven from within to transform the world.
- Universal Call to Holiness: Holiness is not a restrictive privilege for the few but a universal gift and call tied directly to the anointing of baptism and confirmation.
- Rights and Responsibilities: Lay people are canonically entitled and, at times, duty-bound to express their opinions to their pastors regarding the good of the Church.
Addressing Modern Tensions
The webinar did not shy away from the modern challenges confronting parishes today. During the interactive Q&A session, participants raised concerns regarding a growing wave of clericalism among younger clergy, uneven implementations of synodality across dioceses, and the danger of the Church turning too far inward rather than maintaining an outward missionary focus.
In response, Father Vodola referenced the historical precedents of slow, uneven council implementations (such as the Council of Trent) but agreed that the modern world requires urgent relevance. He concluded by pointing to historical prophets like Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, whose “See, Judge, Act” methodology reminds us that the Church’s mission ultimately extends far beyond the pews and deep into the heart of the world.
To watch the full session and hear the audience discussion, check out the YouTube Recording or visit the Australian Cardijn Institute for more information on upcoming webinars.