Pope to catechists: "there is a 'sixth sense' for the things of God".

- Francisco Otamendi

In the fourth century, in Milan, the Church was divided by great conflicts and the election of a new bishop was turning into a tumult, Pope Leo XIV described in the Audience of the Jubilee of Catechists. 

"The story goes that then the voice of a child was raised and he shouted: "Ambrosio bishop!". And all the people cried out, "Ambrosius bishop!". And Ambrose, who was not even baptized, he was a catechumen preparing for baptism, was "one of your greatest bishops and doctor of the Church," said the Pope.

Intuitions in the people of God

The Jubilee makes us pilgrims of hope, "because we sense a great need for renewal that concerns us and the whole earth," said Leo XIV in a sunny St. Peter's Square, at the Jubilee of Catechists, before more than 35,000 pilgrims.

"I just said "we intuit": this verb - to intuit - describes a movement of the spirit, an intelligence of the heart that Jesus found above all in the little ones, that is, in people of humble soul. 

Often, in fact, educated people intuit little, because they presume to know everything. "It is beautiful, instead, to still have room in the mind and in the heart, so that God can reveal himself. How much hope when new intuitions arise in the people of God!"

Infallibility of the people of God in the faith

Jesus rejoices because of this, he is full of joy, the Pontiff continued, because he realizes that the little ones sense. They have the 'sensus fidei', which is like a 'sixth sense' of simple people for the things of God. God is simple and reveals himself to the simple. 

"For this reason," he stressed, "there is an infallibility of the people of God in the faith, of which the infallibility of the Pope is an expression and service" (cf. Conc. Ecum. Ecum. Vat. II, Lumen gentium, 12; International Theological Commission, The sensus fidei in the life of the Church, 30-40)".

"Ambrose, bishop!"

He then recalled that moment in the history of the Church that shows how hope can come from the people's capacity for intuition. How the name Ambrose, St. Ambrose, was born in the fourth century in Milan from the cry of a child.

Ambrose at first did not want to, he even ran away. Then he understood that it was a call from God, so he allowed himself to be baptized and ordained bishop. "And he becomes a Christian by becoming a bishop!" the Pope recalled. 

Gift of the little ones to the Church

"Do you see what a great gift the little ones gave to the Church? Even today it is a grace to ask for: to become Christians while living the call you have received! Are you a mother, are you a father? Become a Christian as a mother and father. Are you a businessman, a worker, a teacher, a priest, a nun? Become a Christian on your way. The people have this 'sense of smell': they understand if we are becoming Christians or not. And it can correct us, it can show us the way of Jesus".

St. Ambrose, over the years, gave much back to his people, Leo XIV noted. For example, "he invented new ways of singing psalms and hymns, of celebrating, of preaching. He himself knew how to intuit, and so hope multiplied. Agustin was converted thanks to his preaching and was baptized by him. Intuiting is a form of waiting, let us not forget that!"

May the Jubilee help us to become small according to the Gospel in order to intuit and serve God's dreams," he concluded his catechesis.