Curtis Martin, the founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), has been appointed by Pope Francis as the Church’s advisor on New Evangelization.

"I'm extremely grateful to the Holy Father for this incredible opportunity to serve the global Church in this new appointment,” Martin said in a release by FOCUS. 

Pope Francis chose Martin and 14 other consultors from various locations, to serve as Consultor for the Section for the Fundamental Questions of Evangelization in the World of the Dicastery for Evangelization, the statement said.

“I am honored, and I look forward to learning from others in the Dicastery for Evangelization while sharing the experience FOCUS has gained through 25 years of evangelization outreach,” Martin said.

The Dicastery for Evangelization comprises various members, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan from the Archdiocese of New York. As a new consultor to the Section for the Fundamental Questions of Evangelization in the World, Martin provides guidance on tackling specific challenges related to the New Evangelization. This includes issues related to politics, society, and more that may impact the Catholic Church's efforts to spread its message globally and create disciples from all corners of the world, FOCUS said.

According to its website, FOCUS was established in 1998 as a Catholic group dedicated to engaging with college and university students and spreading the uplifting message of the gospel. The organization's missionaries establish personal connections with students, offering guidance on Church teachings, faith, and other matters to help them grow closer to Jesus Christ. Through initiatives such as Bible study, outreach programs, mission trips, discipleship, and more, FOCUS inspires and fortifies students' faith, according to FOCUS. 

“We need to be praying for the universal needs of the Church, including the very specific ones that we’re being asked to address, on a day-to-day basis,” Martin told the Catholic News Agency.