In front of this group of bishops appointed over the past year, Pope Leo XIV joked that he didn't expect to be present there as Pope.
He was previously in charge of the department responsible for bishops, so had he not been elected, his presence would have been required at this event in a different way.
To the bishops, he offered the following advice:
POPE LEO XIV
As important and necessary as it is, it’s not enough to simply be aware that our ministry is rooted in the spirit of service, in the image of Christ. In fact, this must also be reflected in the style of our apostolate, in the various forms of pastoral care and governance, and in the desire to proclaim the Gospel in ways that are diverse and creative, depending on the concrete situations you face.
The Pope urged them, above all, to have humility and courage.
JRB
Trans. CRT
