Pope Francis' Vision for Education and the Call for a Global Compact on Education

Abstract

In September 2019, Pope Francis called for a broad alliance to renew our commitment to education to build a more fraternal humanity. To understand the Pope’s call for a Global Compact on Education, it is useful to explore his vision for education. For Pope Francis, education can no longer be reduced to what happens in the classroom. We need educational strategies that give a chance to the transformation and above all to the humanization of the world. We need an “education village” in which parents, communities, and societies are fully engaged. The call for a Global Compact on Education can be understood as a new paradigm for thinking about education.

Keywords:

• Pope Francis
• education
• global compact
• Catholic schools
• Catholic universities

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors only and may not represent the views of UNESCO, the members of its Executive Board, or the countries they represent.

Notes

1 Started more than 20 years ago, Scholas is now active in 190 countries, working with more than 400,000 educational centers and reaching millions of children and young people around the world. Its mission, as stated on its website, is to answer the call to create a culture of encounter and bring young people together in an education that generates meaning. It is not always easy for observers to understand what Scholas does, given that it has a wide range of different programs which include the University of Meaning, the Fratelli Tutti Political School, and the Laudato Si’ School. While these programs have different areas of focus, they all provide opportunities for students of different religions and cultures to meet and discuss pressing issues faced by the world. For example, the Fratelli Tutti Political School is aimed at young people who are developing—or wish to develop—the capacity for social, economic and/or political impact in their communities. The Laudato Si School is aimed at young people who want to take up leadership positions in education that is connected to the earth, its fruits, and the communities that depend on it. Through the school, Scholas fosters civic participation of young people in caring for the "common home" in the light of environmental ethics.

2 The section is adapted from a paper by the first author for the International Office of Catholic Education.

3 There are no explicit references to education in the encyclical Lumen Fidei and the apostolic exhortation Gaudete and Exultate.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luiz Fernando Klein

Luiz Fernando Klein, SJ, is Pedagogical Advisor for the Jesuit Education Network of Brazil.

Philippe Richard

Philippe Richard is recently retired. He served as Secretary General of the International Office of Catholic Education while also managing the Centre Universitaire Catholique De Bourgogne in France.

Quentin Wodon

Quentin Wodon is Director of UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa. Previously, he worked at the World Bank, including as Lead Economist, Lead Poverty Specialist, and manager of the unit on values and development.