A group of 30 students and staff from Catholic schools across the country were granted a special audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, in recognition of their Catholic Social Teaching campaign work.
Meeting the Holy Father on 25 June were students and staff members from St Antony’s Catholic Primary School and St Bonaventure’s Catholic Secondary School, both in Forest Gate in the Diocese of Brentwood; St Thomas More Catholic High School, North Shields, in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle; Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Hove, in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton; Greyfriars Catholic School, Oxford, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham; and Wimbledon College, in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
The delegation was arranged by charity Citizens UK, which together with the schools on 2 July last year published Called To Action, a community organising handbook featuring the students' Catholic Social Teaching campaigns. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, attended the launch event at Holy Apostles Parish Hall, Pimlico, and was asked if he might deliver a letter about the handbook to Pope Francis. He agreed, and an invitation from Pope Francis arrived early in 2025 which Pope Leo subsequently honoured.
The students shared their campaign efforts with the Holy Father, who listened attentively and offered his prayers and blessing on their work. During the audience His Holiness was presented with a copy of Called To Action and signed some photographs with other items for display in the schools. He gave a public endorsement to Citizens UK as a ‘Catholic movement’ at Wednesday’s (25 June) General Audience in St Peter’s Square.
Thomas, a student from Wimbledon College, said: “Pope Leo had a kind smile for everyone. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d take part in anything like this. It’s really strengthened my faith and desire to share that loving kindness with others.” The college students' campaigning had helped secure more NHS youth mental health funding in their area, trained mental health ambassadors, and ‘be well hubs’ across south London.
Pope Leo was also presented with a copy of Not Only With Words, a report outlining parishes' community organising work with Citizens UK, to live out the Church’s teaching on social justice and synodality. Produced by the Centre for Theology and Community, the report includes a foreword by Cardinal Nichols encouraging more Catholic parishes to engage in this work.
The group’s time in Rome also included visits to Catholic churches and basilicas, including the tomb of Pope Francis, making the trip a spiritually rich and memorable pilgrimage experience in the Jubilee Year.
Lily, a student from St Thomas More Catholic High School, said: “It was a faith-enriching, once-in-a-lifetime event that I will never forget." St Thomas More students had marched and petitioned the regional mayor to introduce a discounted £1 fare for all under-22s, in line with other bus services in the area.
Among those attending from St Antony’s Catholic Primary School were Headteacher Mrs Angela Moore; music teacher Nathan Chan; and Year 6 pupil leaders Ariana Mahari and Tega Nanna. St Antony's had campaigned to secure the Living Wage from local employers like London City Airport and Tate & Lyle. Ariana said: “It was awe-inspiring and it encourages me to have a stronger relationship with God and with others… we are one community no matter where in the world we are.”
Andy Lewis, one of the organisers and Deputy Headteacher at St Bonaventure’s Catholic Secondary School, said: “This meeting is a powerful endorsement of our work in Catholic schools. To hear our actions affirmed at the highest level of the Church was deeply moving and a testament to what is possible when Catholic Social Teaching is not only taught, but lived. It was a day we will never forget.” St Bonaventure's students had successfully secured improved bus services for local schools.
Planning is under way to expand the Called To Action programme, with a growing network of schools and dioceses expressing interest and with a follow up conference in 2026.
Image provided by Citizens UK
