St. Peter's Basilica became a ‘sea of purple zucchettos.’ Pope Leo XIV was among them in white. They were all gathered for the Jubilee of Bishops.
The pontiff, in addition to being the successor of Peter, is also in charge of a diocese—Rome—so he presented himself as one of the bishops.
POPE LEO XIV
But each of you, as well as myself, before being shepherds, we are sheep of the Lord’s flock. And for this reason, we too—indeed, we first—are called to pass through the Holy Door, a symbol of Christ the Savior.
Pope Leo XIV’s meditation centered on three key points that define the role of a bishop. First, bishops must be the visible principle of unity in the Church.
POPE LEO XIV
Your task is to ensure that the Church is built up in communion among all its members and with the universal Church, valuing the contribution of different gifts and ministries for the common growth and the spread of the Gospel.
Another trait Pope Leo emphasized is that the bishop must be a man of theological life—or, as he put it, a man fully docile to the action of the Holy Spirit.
POPE LEO XIV
How beautiful is this portrait of a man of faith: someone who, by the grace of God, sees beyond, sees the goal, and remains steadfast in trial. Think of the times Moses intercedes before God on behalf of the people. Like him, the bishop in his Church is the intercessor, because the Spirit keeps the flame of faith alive in his heart.
Lastly, and grounded in the previous point, Pope Leo noted that the bishop must also bring hope to his people as their shepherd and calm despair, especially when the journey becomes difficult.
POPE LEO XIV
When families are overburdened and public institutions do not support them adequately; when young people are disillusioned and tired of false messages; when the elderly and people with serious disabilities feel abandoned, the bishop is present—not offering solutions, but the witness of communities striving to live the Gospel with simplicity and to share generously.
These three aspects can be summed up into one core idea that Pope Leo defines as the theological center of the pastor’s life. The bishop is a man of pastoral charity, setting an example of brotherhood.
To this, the Pope added other virtues he described as indispensable: pastoral prudence, poverty, human virtues, and, using the words of the Pope, perfect continence in celibacy.
POPE LEO XIV
It’s not just about being celibate, but about practicing chastity of heart and conduct, and in this way, living the following of Christ, so as to show everyone the true image of the Church, which is holy and chaste in her members as in her Head. Moreover, he must be firm and decisive in confronting situations that could cause scandal, as well as any case of abuse—especially against minors—adhering to current regulations.
In the basilica, there were around 400 bishops from 38 countries, including Spain, Poland, Portugal, the United States, and the Philippines.
CA
Trans. CRT
