James O'Reilly
In addition to being the bishop of the Church worldwide, Pope Leo XIV is also the Bishop of Rome, and he began the month of May by ordaining his four new auxiliary bishops at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.
During the homily, he recalled the societal dynamics to which these new bishops must pay very close attention in their ministry:
POPE LEO XIV
This is why, even today, one becomes stones rejected by men and chosen by God: when, through one’s life and words, one opposes projects that crush the weak, do not respect the dignity of every person, and exploit conflicts to select the strongest.
The Pope also took the opportunity to recall the mission of the priestly ministry and also the concept of the Catholic Church as a “field hospital,” in the world, which was a phrase coined by his predecessor Pope Francis.
POPE LEO XIV
To be a ‘field hospital’ Church, to be street pastors, to keep in your hearts the material and existential peripheries. As priests, you have accepted this invitation, together with the parish communities you have accompanied.
With Rome being the heart of Christianity and one of the world’s oldest cities, receiving the most pilgrims and tourists each year, Pope Leo emphasized that the Church of this city must be “a welcoming face” that reflects the Catholic Church's maternal dimension.
