On the Vocation and Mission of the Laity in the Church and in the World
The Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, promulgated by Pope John Paul II on December 30, 1988, addresses the vocation and mission of the laity in the Church and in the world. It is a key document in the implementation of the Second Vatican Council, particularly the Constitution Lumen Gentium, which emphasized the fundamental role of the lay faithful in evangelization.
This document emerged as a fruit of the 1987 Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the vocation and mission of the laity in the Church and in society. In a context of increasing secularization and global ethical challenges, Christifideles Laici underscores the need for the lay faithful to take an active role in the Christian transformation of the world.
One of its key teachings is the universal call to holiness: All the baptized are called to holiness, not just clergy or religious.
Christifideles Laici remains a fundamental reference for lay participation in the Church. Its emphasis on the new evangelization, holiness in daily life, and social commitment resonates in the current context, where lay people have a crucial role in defending human dignity and spreading the Gospel in all spheres of society.