The OIEC meets Pope Leo XIV: a shared educational mission
During the general audience held on Wednesday 26 August 2026 at the Vatican, Hervé Lecomte, Secretary-General of the International Office for Catholic Education (OIEC), had the pleasure of speaking personally with Pope Leo XIV.
This meeting followed on from an initial exchange that took place during the Jubilee of the World of Education in Rome. On that occasion, Hervé Lecomte had been able to present the OIEC’s commitment to the Holy Father and to present him with the book A School for Peace, produced to support educational communities in their mission of dialogue, fraternity and reconciliation.
A particular focus on the OIEC’s remit
During this latest meeting, Hervé Lecomte spoke to the Pope about the OIEC’s mission and international commitment; the organisation is active in over 110 countries and represents nearly 210,000 schools attended by 68 million pupils.
The Secretary-General highlighted, in particular, the work carried out by the OIEC in support of the Global Education Pact, education for peace, the inner life, and the representation of Catholic education within major international institutions.
The Holy Father’s attention and benevolent regard lent this exchange a particular depth. They bear witness to the importance he attaches to education and to all those who, throughout the world, work daily in the service of children and young people.
Guided by the four cardinal principles of Leo XIV
Hervé Lecomte also thanked Pope Leo XIV for the four guiding principles he set out for the educational community: inner life, unity, love and joy.
These four guiding principles are deeply in line with the OIEC’s commitments. They call on educators to nurture the inner life of every individual, to rebuild bonds, to place love at the heart of every educational relationship, and to restore joy to its rightful place in schools.
They now serve as a true compass for building the ‘educational constellations of hope’ called for by the Holy Father: vibrant partnerships between schools, families, young people, institutions and all those committed to the cause of education.
Ahead of the meeting at UNESCO
Hervé Lecomte finally expressed to the Holy Father the OIEC’s joy and honour at being present alongside him during his visit to UNESCO in Paris.
This exceptional event will mark a significant moment of dialogue between the Catholic Church and UNESCO on the major contemporary challenges facing education. It will bear witness to their shared commitment to placing the human person at the heart of education and to building, through dialogue and cooperation, a more fraternal and peaceful future.
This valuable meeting at the Vatican thus bolsters the OIEC in its mission and strengthens its commitment alongside Pope Leo XIV. It opens up the prospect of an ever more fruitful dialogue in the service of an education that fosters peace, brotherhood and hope for the younger generations.
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Leo XIV at UNESCO
To mark this historic meeting, the OIEC has produced the book Léon XIV at UNESCO. This publication highlights the common ground between the educational principles of the Holy See and those of UNESCO, centred on a shared conviction: to make education a path to peace.
In particular, it highlights the Renewed Global Educational Pact, the ten educational constellations and the four guiding principles set out by Léon XIV for the educational community: inner life, unity, love and joy.
View the book online or download it free of charge.