May 2025

Pope Leo born in see-judge-act family - YCW Centenary - Guérin canonisation - Social Catholicism in Argentina

May 15, 2025

Vale Pope Francis, welcome Pope Leo

Dear Friends,

What a momentous month it's been! We've unexpectedly said farewell to Pope Francis after he seemed to have weathered the storm. And already we've welcomed Pope Leo XIV to a role that he seems born for.

We note that Pope Leo, whose parents belonged to the US branch of the Christian Family Movement, a lay apostolate movement directly modelled on the YCW and YCS, is undoubtedly the first pontiff to have been raised in a see-judge-act family environment.

We also have news and video of the YCW Centenary celebrations in Belgium and Germany.

Another report from Rome highlights the fact that Sr Oonah O'Shea, a former YCW leader in Australia, has taken on a very important international role as president of UISG, the global network of religious sisters.

From France, we have news that the canonisation cause of French YCW founding chaplain, Fr Georges Guérin, has concluded the diocesan stage and now moves to Rome.

We share the video of an Australian Cardijn Institute webinar recalling the roles of YCW and YCS leaders during the Vietnam War.

And we also share a recent historical article from Argentina reflecting on the development of social Catholicism in that country.

And as usual we conclude with reflections from Pat Branson and Richard Pütz plus a brief selection of social media posts.

The Centre International Cardijn Team

Growing demand for Church’s social doctrine: Leo

Addressing a Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation Conference on “Overcoming Polarisations and Rebuilding Global Governance: The Ethical Foundations,” Pope Leo XIV said that there is a growing demand for the Church’s social doctrine that needs to be met.

“Those born and raised far from the centres of power should not merely be taught the Church’s social doctrine; they should also be recognised as carrying it forward and putting it into practice.

"Individuals committed to the betterment of society, popular movements and the various Catholic workers’ groups are an expression of those existential peripheries where hope endures and springs anew. I urge you to let the voice of the poor be heard," the new pope added.

Growing demand for Church’s social doctrine: Leo

Leo credits Christian Family Movement for his vocation

In a 2020 interview, the future Pope Leo XIV credited the Cardijn-inspired Christian Family Movement as one of the influences on the discovery of his vocation to the priesthood.

“My family was very practical; my dad was a catechist, my mom participated in various activities in the parish where we lived,” Cardinal Prevost said. “Besides, they were members of the Christian Family Movement.

“And so since I was a child, I had a very nice experience of the various dimensions of parish life. I was also an acolyte in the parish, and studied in a parish school. All of these things certainly contributed to me at some point considering the possibility of being a priest,” he noted.

Chicago during the 1960s was an influential centre of the lay apostolate, with the Young Christian Workers (YCW), Young Christian Students (YCS) and the CFM all having their national centres there.

Leo credits Cardijn movement for vocation

International YCW celebrates centenary in Brussels

Former YCW leaders from around the world joined current International YCW members, past and present, in Belgium and Germany to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the movement.

The 1-12 May celebrations began with an international ecumenical service at Notre-Dame de Laeken in Brussels followed by a youth festival and leader exchanges across Europe.

Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Hongbo, congratulated the YCW on reaching such a milestone and encouraged the YCW to continue fighting for better working conditions and adequate representation for young people worldwide.

Forty former and current leaders then moved to Haltern, Germany, for a five day program of intergenerational reflection on the role of past and present leaders.

YCW celebrates centenary in Brussels

Centenaire de la JOC: « Le cardinal Cardijn n’a rien perdu de son actualité » (CathoBel)

Video: Faith celebration at Notre Dame church, Laeken

An ecumenical and interreligious faith celebration for the YCW Centenary took place at Cardijn's parish church, Notre Dame de Laeken, on 1 May 2025.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Former YCW leader heads global nuns network

The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) has announced the election of Sr Oonah O’Shea, NDS, as the new President of the Union.

Her election took place during the Delegates’ Assembly, held in Rome as part of the broader 2025 Plenary process.

Sr Oonah, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame de Sion, is an Australian religious sister born in 1946 to Irish parents.

She began her professional journey as a primary school teacher in Catholic schools and was actively involved in the Young Christian Workers movement. In 1968, she entered her religious congregation and continued her service through teaching and further studies in theology, politics, and economic history. A formative year spent in Israel deepened her understanding of faith and intercultural engagement.

Aussie ex-YCW leader elected UISG president

Video: YCW, YCS and the Vietnam War

A webinar organised by the Australian Cardijn Institute on Monday 28 April 205 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of what many knew as the “Vietnam War” but which in Vietnam is known as the “American War.”

French-Vietnamese historian, Dr Claire Tran, joined Australian historian, Dr Val Noone, and former Australian YCW national secretary, Garry McDonald, to recall and reflect on the war’s impact on the YCW and YCS movements and their members in Vietnam, Australia and internationally.

WATCH THE VIDEO

History: The YCW, Cardijn and the bishops in Argentina

This new article by Stephan Ruderer from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile traces the story of the JOC in Argentina.

READ THE ARTICLE

Stephan Ruderer, La JOC, Cardijn y los obispos. El círculo vicioso del catolicismo social en Argentina The YCW, Cardijn and the bishops. The vicious circle of social Catholicism in Argentina (2025, Anuario de Historia de la Iglesia 34/Academia)

Canonisation cause for French YCW founder moves to Rome

The diocesan process for the cause for canonisation of French YCW founder-chaplain, Fr Georges Guérin, concluded at a ceremony in Paris on 16 May 2025.

Vicar-general Mgr Michel Guéguen presided at the event which took place at the office of the Workers’ Catholic Action (ACO) movement.

An apprentice metal tester then an office worker, he was ordained a priest of the diocese of Paris in 1925 and was appointed vicar at St Vincent de Paul parish in Clichy, an inner suburb.

Appointed as chaplain to the new movement in 1927, he remained in this post until 1950.

French YCW founder canonisation process moves to Rome (Cardijn.info)

Gospel: Remain in my love

Jesus lived by two laws: love God and love your neighbour, writes Pat Branson. The religious sensibility that dominated Israel’s culture presented those closest to them as neighbours. Jesus challenged the prevailing view: our neighbour is not close to us, but far away, even diametrically opposed to us. Jesus chose a Samaritan as the ideal neighbour.

Love knows no boundaries because it is other-centred. Love is doing that which is for the good of the other. When the Jewish people settled on Ten Commandments to govern their lives, they chose seven rules for neighbourliness.

Remain in my love (Gospel Enquiries)

Reflection: In the spirit of discernment

In his book The Modern Apostle, Louis J Putz CSC shares some of the influences that Monsignor Cardijn had on his thinking:

"Monsignor Cardijn happened upon a normal and natural formula, almost accidentally. The famous formula of "observe, judge, act" was born, and St Thomas Aquinas had already figured it out as the standard method of human prudence. Every prudent action must be based on good observation or consultation, judgment as to ways and means, and a decision to engage in action."

In Theology at the Catholic Institute of Theology in Paris, Louis studied under professors Yves Congar, Henri De Lubac, Jean Danielou, Teilhard de Chardin, and Emmanuel Shuard, who later became a famous cardinal. Louis' dogma professor was Fr. Dion, who later became the Chaplain of the French underground and the last man executed by the Nazis after the invasion of Normandy. In the seminary, they would often gather in the evenings to discuss the Church with the papal nuncio to France, Angelo Roncalli. What we see back then was the working of the Spirit.

In the spirit of discernment (Cardijn Reflections)

News briefs and social media

YCW Centenary celebrations

Current IYCW president, Basma Louis, with Clemence Otekpo, president of the ICYCW, with former IYCW presidents Sarah Prenger and Geethani Peries, and outgoing secretary-general, Ana Cecilia Salazar (2nd from right).

YCW Youth Festival at Sint Truiden