October 2025
Popular movements meet - Sakamoto workers solidarity - Dilexi Te - François Houtart & the YCW method - YCW Manual 100 years
Friends,
We begin our October newsletter with a remarkable speech by Pope Leo to the meeting of popular movements in Rome last week.
We feature the pope’s new apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te, which continues the commitment of Pope Francis and the Latin American Church to building a Church of the Poor.
We share a call from the Philippines YCW for solidarity with workers at the Sakamoto factory in the Philippines (photo above).
On a historical level, Felix Ollarves recalls an inspiring talk by the late François Houtart on the YCW and its method. We also post links to the new online editions of Cardijn’s original 1925 Manuel de la JOC as well as the “definitive” 1930 edition.
Plus, we have a video of a talk on French JOC martyr Marcel Callo by the postulator of his cause for canonisation, Thomas Gueydier.
Lazare Kabran reports on the first General Assembly of the Cardijn Community in Ivory Coast.
Richard Pütz reminds us of the Revolution Jesus proposed with his Sermon on the Mount.
And finally our social media posts, including a meeting of the German Christian Worker movement with the future Pope Leo in Peru in 2016, a statement by KAB chair Sarah Prenger on solidarity with migrants and YCS Senegal action on peace.
The Centre International Cardijn Team
Popular movements meet in Rome
The Fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements took place in Rome from October 21-24. Addressing the meeting, Pope Leo noted that “today, exclusion is the new face of social injustice.”
“The gap between a ‘small minority’—1% of the population—and the vast majority has widened considerably. This exclusion is a ‘novelty’ that Pope Francis has denounced as a ‘throwaway culture,’ vehemently stating: ‘The excluded are not “exploited,” but waste, “leftovers.”’
“Once again, we are faced with an ethical vacuum into which evil easily insinuates itself,” Pope Leo warned. “This is why popular movements, as well as people of good will, Christians, believers and governments, are urgently called to fill this void, establishing processes of justice and solidarity that spread throughout society.”
READ MORE
Discurso del Papa León XIV a los participantes en el Encuentro Mundial de Movimientos Populares (Vatican)
Popular movements combat exclusion: Leo
Encuentro Mundial Movimientos Populares -Tierra Techo Trabajo (Facebook)
Introducing Dilexi Te
With great anticipation, on October 9 Pope Leo XIV released the first major teaching document of his papacy, the apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, writes Matthew Shadle at Window Light. The document focuses on love for the poor or, to use a term introduced more recently, the “preferential option for the poor” (#90).
The document adopts the same “see-judge-act” structure used by Pope Francis in several of his documents, beginning with a survey of the challenge to be addressed, continuing with an outline of relevant scriptural and theological themes, and ending with an exhortation to action.
READ MORE
Pope Leo, Dilexi Te (Vatican)
A (Synodal) Church which is Poor and for the Poor (Window Light)
Love for the Poor and the Church’s Great Tradition (Window Light)
Urgent appeal: Solidarity with Sakamoto workers
Philippines YCW began contact-building with the workers of Sakamoto International Packaging Corporation in 2024 and formally started organizing efforts in early 2025, IYCW Asia-Pacific reports.
For years, these workers have been the backbone of the company—faithfully dedicating five to fourteen years of their lives to keep production running. Yet despite their long service, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment, they continue to be denied their basic right to security of tenure.
Instead of being recognized as regular employees, they are unjustly classified as “agency workers,” stripping them of dignity, stability, and the benefits they rightfully deserve.
When the workers filed a Petition for Certification of Election (PCE) at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to form their union, the company denied responsibility by claiming there was “no employer-employee relationship.” This is a blatant denial of the workers’ contribution and a clear violation of their rights.
After the PCE was denied, the company began a pattern of harassment and intimidation against workers, especially those suspected of being union leaders and members.
READ MORE
Urgent appeal: Solidarity support for Sakamoto workers union (IYCW Asia-Pacific)
The YCW and its method
During the Continental Meeting of the JOC America (JOCA), which took place in El Quisco – Chile, from 24 June to 4 July this year, I made a short presentation on the YCW method of the JOC during the formation section of the meeting, writes Felix Ollarves.
Among the significant references was a presentation by François Houtart for the IYCW World Council in Germany in 2016.
I regard the presentation as of great value for the needs of the various movements of the Cardijn family, which are working for a more just and solidary society.
We hope it will be of use to all.
READ MORE
François Houtart and the YCW method
Cardijn Community Ivory Coast official launch
The Cardijn Community International in Ivory Coast held its inaugural General Assembly in Abidjan on Sunday 12 October 2025.
The theme chosen for the assembly was “The role of committed Catholic lay people in the consolidation and promotion of a synodal Church.”
“Synodality means ‘walking together,” noted Dr Innocent Gamsore, who delivered the opening address. “It expresses the identity of the Church as the People of God on mission, listening to the Holy Spirit.”
The assembly adopted three priority areas of work: governance, training, and monitoring and evaluation.
READ MORE
CCI Ivory Coast inaugural assembly (Cardijn.info)
Video: Blessed Marcel Callo
In this video, Thomas Gueydier, postulator for the canonisation cause of French YCW martyr, Marcel Callo, speaks about his life and work.
Centenary: The 1925 YCW Manual
This month marks the centenary of the first edition of the YCW Manual (Manuel de la JOC), originally drafted by Cardijn and published in October 1925.
This manual together with the “definitive” 1930 second edition kindled the flame for the YCW’s rapid expansion around the world. Indeed, amazingly, the YCW already existed in fifty countries by the time World War II broke out in September 1939.
The Joseph Cardijn Digital Library has now published new online editions of these two classic YCW Manuals in the original French. But you can simply right click in Chrome browser to read the manuals in English or another language.
READ THE MANUALS
Reflection: The Revolution Jesus preached
Let’s start with a question that has haunted contemplatives and activists for two thousand years, writes Richard Pütz:
What if we actually lived the Sermon on the Mount? Not just studied it. Admired it from a safe distance. Or turned it into comforting spiritual quotes for social media.
But lived it — in our workplaces, neighborhoods, political choices, and daily encounters with power and poverty, with courage and determination.
READ MORE
The Revolution Jesus Preached: Living the Sermon on the Mount Today (Cardijn Reflections)
News briefs and social media
African YCS leaders mobilise for peace
German Christian Workers combat repatriation of immigrants and refugees
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