Pope Leo XIV has sent a message to Catholic Social Services Australia, marking the organisation’s 70th anniversary.
This acknowledgment from the Pope underscores CSSA’s enduring witness to the Gospel and its vital contribution to Australian society over seven decades.
Central to the Pope’s message is the Gospel passage from Matthew 25:40: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” This scripture lies at the heart of CSSA’s mission.
CSSA chief executive Jerry Nockles, said, “It is CSSA’s Gospel theme that calls, guides, and encourages our work every day. Receiving this message from Pope Leo XIV is a momentous honour and a significant recognition of the work our community does.”
Dr Nockles reflected on the Pope’s powerful words that “the moral greatness of a nation is manifested, above all, in its capacity to accompany, protect and love those lives that are most fragile.”
“In these challenging times of change and division in Australia, the Holy Father’s teaching is a timely and critical reminder,” Dr Nockles said.
“Pope Leo is the global statesmen the world so desperately needs today. His voice is urgently needed to inspire nations to uphold dignity and solidarity with those most in need.
“This call to walk with the most vulnerable is just as urgent here in Australia.”
The message to CSSA reinforces the call to action laid out in the Holy Father’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.
“The Holy Father calls us to ‘get our hands dirty in the construction zone of our time’ – a vivid call to active involvement and practical engagement in our communities. This is a powerful invitation to move beyond words and take real, hands-on action to build a more just and compassionate society,” Dr Nockles added.
The anniversary year will be commemorated with a gala dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on August 12 to celebrate CSSA’s enduring legacy and future mission.
“The anniversary offers us an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to serving the Australian community with faith, compassion, and justice,” Dr Nockles concluded.
Bookings for the Gala Dinner can be made at Trybooking.
Read Pope Leo XIV’s message to Catholic Social Services Australia.
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