Catholic catechesis

For a more general account of Christian catechesis, see Catechesis.

The function of Catholic catechesis is to teach (catechize or catechise) the faith of the Catholic Church by both word and example. A catechist is a person appointed to perform this function. The Church's Directory for Catechesis states that faith must be "known, celebrated, lived, and turned into prayer" in a personal and total encounter of the heart, mind and senses with Christ. St. John Paul II describes the aim of catechesis as putting "people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ."

The Second Vatican Council identified catechetical instruction as the "foremost" means by which the Church "enlightens and strengthens the faith, nourishes life according to the spirit of Christ, leads to intelligent and active participation in the liturgical mystery and gives motivation for apostolic activity".

Papal audiences often contain teaching presentations referred to as "catechesis", for example Pope Francis' audiences incorporated "catechesis", and Pope Leo XIV's general audiences in August 2025 incorporated his "continuing catechesis on the Jubilee theme of 'Christ our Hope'".

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