Pope Francis: 'A strong alliance is needed between schools and families'

"Dear parents, you are indeed the protagonists and the first architects of your children's education, but this task requires the help of the whole of society, starting with the school. A strong alliance between schools and families allows for the transmission of knowledge and at the same time the transmission of human and spiritual values," says Pope Francis in his message sent to participants at the Congress of the Association des Parents d'Eleves del'Enseignement Libre (Apel), which takes place in Valence, France, from 31 May to 2 June 2024.

"The way forward in this area, as in so many others, remains that of alliance, encounter and collaboration. Thus your commitment as parents of students, at the service of our educational communities, proves indispensable, and I thank you for it. It is one of the pillars of the Global Educational Pact that I invite you to propose with enthusiasm,' the Pontiff emphasises.
Francesco also invites parents not to forget 'the pedagogical function of time! You know from experience that education does not end with the end of school: its effects are manifested throughout life, allowing you to welcome the joys and trials that punctuate it'. He therefore exhorts us to 'make good use of time' and 'face current challenges with courage'.

"I am thinking in particular of the challenge posed by artificial intelligence and the way in which it profoundly changes, beyond learning methods, the way of thinking independently," he then explains. "To face this challenge, which not only concerns ethics but also the formation of the intelligence and judgement of your children, of the entire youth, I assure you that the Church is at your side," the Pope added. "There is here a whole work of discernment that I invite you to do with the entire community and educational community and the light of the Church, because this kind of challenge cannot be faced alone!