On a recent episode of Relevant in Rome, Rome correspondent Ashley Noronha joined Mark Swartzberg to discuss Pope Leo XIV’s latest catechesis, his encouragement to seminarians, and the Church’s celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo continued his catechesis on the Second Vatican Council, turning to Gaudium et Spes and its teaching on the dignity of the human person. Ashley explained that the Holy Father traced that dignity back to creation itself. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God and created for communion with Him and with others.

Human dignity, therefore, does not depend upon intelligence, productivity, wealth, social position, or any other human achievement. It is given by God and cannot simply be lost when a person becomes weak, dependent, or unable to contribute in ways the world considers valuable.

That truth is particularly important in an increasingly technological society. Pope Leo emphasized that technological advancement must remain at the service of the human person rather than reducing people to their usefulness, intelligence, or economic value.

Ashley also highlighted the Pope’s teaching on three important expressions of human dignity: intelligence, which seeks truth; conscience, which helps a person recognize the moral meaning of his life; and freedom, through which each person becomes responsible for his choices. The human body also possesses an inherent goodness because it was created by God and is destined for resurrection.

Mark noted that this understanding of the human person comes before the work of evangelization. Christians are called not simply to bring Christ to others, but first to recognize who every person already is before God.

That same confidence in God’s work was evident when Pope Leo met with approximately 150 seminarians from two Italian seminaries. The Holy Father described priestly vocation as a gift rather than an accomplishment. God continues to call men in every generation, and seminary formation gives them the opportunity to discern that call and prepare for their mission in the Church.

Ashley explained that Pope Leo compared seminary formation to going up the mountain with Jesus. Time spent in prayer, discernment, and formation does not delay the mission. It prepares a man to undertake it faithfully.

Mark encouraged listeners to remember the priests who have played important roles in their own lives and to offer prayers of gratitude for their ministry.

The conversation offered a fitting reminder that every Christian vocation begins with God. Whether He calls a person to priesthood, marriage, religious life, or another path of service, our dignity and our mission ultimately begin with the same truth: we belong to Him.