(Vatican City — March 2026) — What is the future of consecrated life? This is the central question of a new book published by San Paolo, written by Salesian Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA) and Rector Major Emeritus, together with Fr. Giuseppe Costa, a Salesian priest and expert in religious communication.

In a frank and sincere dialogue, the authors address the key issues related to the present and future of religious life: the steady decline in vocations, especially in the West; the quality of formation; the challenges of living and witnessing fraternal life; fidelity to the original charism amid ongoing apostolic commitments; and significant economic difficulties. These are all challenges that point to an evident fragility.

However, the authors note that consecrated life can be renewed precisely through the fragility it is currently experiencing in many respects. They emphasize that religious life must not be identified solely with the social functions it performed in the past. Not only is this a mistake, but it also fosters pessimism and becomes a barrier to change and transformation.

Consecrated life remains more necessary than ever in the Church today. Yet, there must be the courage to move beyond anxiety and fear about a future “without numbers and without walls.” Religious life is not defined by what one does, but by what one is: a sign of God’s presence in the world, a “metaphor of God’s love.”

“The future of consecrated life, which I firmly believe will continue to exist because it is sustained by the Spirit of God and not by us, does not depend on numbers or on the structures and institutions we feel compelled to preserve at all costs,” states Cardinal Fernández Artime. “Consecrated life cannot exist without men and women who are deeply faithful, authentically self-emptying, and fully surrendered to God.”

“Today, religious life is more necessary than ever,” he adds, “but it must rediscover its love and attraction for the Lord Jesus, placing Him at the center of our lives and deep within our hearts.” He further notes that “continuing to identify consecrated life solely with its social role—in schools, hospitals, or social service institutions—is not only a mistake; it also leads to pessimism, nostalgia for the past, and resistance to change and transformation.”

The cardinal also observes that in both seminaries and parishes there is “far less maturity than one might suppose.” He states: “Basic spiritual and doctrinal formation is no longer sufficient. There is an increasing need for human, emotional, psychological, and cultural preparation—one that enables dialogue with the world and a meaningful response to social challenges.”

Authenticity, human and spiritual maturity, holistic formation, cultural openness, and prophetic courage are essential to responding to the vocation crisis, especially at a time when young people seek consistency between what is proclaimed and what is lived. It is important to help them understand that consecrated life “is not a diminishment of the self, but the realization of one’s true self—transformed by a deep passion for the Lord, nurtured through personal growth with the grace that only God provides, and rooted in an authentic charism recognized by the Church, along with its spirituality, mission, and community.”

The book-length interview also includes sections addressing abuse, with a clear acknowledgment of responsibility, in line with the position of recent popes: “Even a single case is so serious as to be unforgivable and unjustifiable.”

In summary, the volume presents a vision of consecrated life—both today and in the future—marked by a strong prophetic dimension: “In a world often characterized by indifference and fragmentation, communities that live true fraternity become visible signs of unity, encounter, communion, and reconciliation. The witness of communal life shows that another way of living is possible—one that differs from domination, selfishness, and the relentless pursuit of power and wealth.”

This is the “evangelical counterculture” described by Cardinal Fernández Artime, drawing from his own vocation: “Don Bosco used to say to young people, ‘I feel at home with you.’ And even today, I experience the same.”

With contributions from Maria Michela Nicolais, for AgenSir