This new social, cultural, and ecclesial movement, which some have called the “Catholic turn,” has barely begun, and already there are those who have killed it, buried it, and said its funeral mass. If we consider that Christ spent half his life talking about harvesting and sowing (with all that this implies in terms of waiting and patience), it is amusing that our society Click and Collect I want the change to happen now, immediately, without delay... perhaps to move on to another screen as soon as possible.
2026 begins, and this is undeniable, driven by a certain current of optimism within the Church, produced by the realization that, more in spite of us than thanks to us, there is a part of society that postmodern nihilism can no longer deceive and which, in one way or another, is turning its eyes to faith; or at least to a Christian-based anthropology, guardian of Beauty “ever ancient and ever new.”.
It is no longer just different cultural expressions in cinema, music, or social media that have revived the search for God or spirituality as “a topic to be addressed.” It is also present in a large part of pastoral work, which faces the challenge of responding in a mature and informed way to the questions of thousands of people who are searching and want to find “clear answers” in the Church: concrete commitment, ways of living that move away from the facile optimism of "anything goes," and concern for others that goes beyond slogans.
The ball that we Catholics have on our roof is made of leather, not foam, and when it hits you, it sometimes hurts. Transmitting the deposit of faith means answering the questions that Leo XIV raises in his powerful apostolic letter. In Unity of Faith on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed:
"What does God mean to me, and how do I bear witness to my faith in Him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of life, or are there idols more important than God and His commandments? Is God for me the living God, close to me in every situation, the Father to whom I turn with filial trust? Is He the Creator to whom I owe everything I am and everything I have, whose footprints I can find in every creature? Am I willing to share the goods of the earth, which belong to everyone, in a just and equitable manner? How do I treat creation, which is the work of His hands?”Answering these questions requires each of us to engage in genuine personal examination and adopt a way of life that, while I don't know if it will be part of the cultural “Catholic shift,” will certainly change our lives.
