Pope Leo XIV delivered his first homily as bishop of Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. The pontiff stated that ecclesial communion is built through prayer and commitment to conversion. Pope Leo referenced the Council of Jerusalem, highlighting the importance of dialogue and not imposing excessive burdens on new converts. He emphasized that listening to God's voice is crucial for building communion. The Pope affirmed that the Spirit sustains and guides in making life decisions.
6 months ago
Pope Leo XIV formally took possession of his cathedra (throne) as Bishop of Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on May 25, delivering his first homily in this capacity 1. The Basilica, recognized as the "mother and head of all the Churches," serves as the cathedral of the See of Rome 1. Prior to the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV met with Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, who paid homage to him as the new Bishop of Rome 1.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV underscored that ecclesial communion is forged "on our knees," through prayer, continuous conversion, and mutual listening 1. He referenced the Council of Jerusalem from the Acts of the Apostles, highlighting how dialogue and listening to God's voice enabled the early Church to overcome challenges and grow 1. The Pope expressed his firm desire to contribute to this process by listening to everyone as much as possible, aiming to learn, understand, and make decisions collaboratively 1.
Pope Leo XIV affirmed the Church of Rome's legacy as "heir to a great history" and its unique mission as "Omnium Ecclesiarum Mater," or mother of all Churches 1. He invoked his predecessor Pope Francis's invitation to reflect on the Church's "maternal dimension," characterized by tenderness, self-sacrifice, and the capacity to anticipate needs 1. The Pope hopes these qualities will be increasingly evident across the faithful and pastors in the Diocese of Rome, including himself 1.
During the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV received pledges of fidelity from a representative group of the people of God in Rome, rather than solely from cardinals or Curia members 1. This symbolic Rite of Obedience included an auxiliary bishop, a canon, a parish priest, a parochial vicar, a deacon, religious men and women, a family, an educator, a catechist, and two young people, signifying a broad expression of communion within the diocese 1.
The Pope praised the Diocese of Rome's ongoing "challenging process of listening," which involves engaging with the surrounding world and internal communities to address challenges and propose initiatives for evangelization and charity 1. He acknowledged the complexity of this journey but affirmed its alignment with the Church's history of "thinking big" and undertaking courageous projects 1. He specifically highlighted the extensive work being done by the Diocese for the upcoming Jubilee Year, aiming to present Rome as a welcoming home and a place of deep faith for pilgrims 1.
The papacy's role in fostering ecclesial communion, according to Church teaching.
The papacy, through the ministry of the Bishop of Rome as the Successor of Peter, plays a crucial and indispensable role in fostering ecclesial communion within the Catholic Church . This role is rooted in divine institution and is essential for the unity of faith and communion among all believers .
The Roman Pontiff is described as the "perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful" . This means that the Pope serves as a tangible sign and guarantor of the Church's unity . This unity extends to both the hierarchical structure of the Church, particularly the bishops, and the entire body of the faithful .
Ecclesial communion itself is a profound reality that mirrors the Trinitarian Mystery of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who is communion itself . The Church, established by Christ through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, is a "people brought into unity from the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" . The papacy's role in fostering this communion involves both a vertical dimension (union with God) and a horizontal dimension (unity among people) .
As the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the universal Church, the Pope possesses "full, supreme, immediate, and universal power over the whole Church" . This power is exercised for the welfare and spiritual development of the People of God . However, this power is understood as a ministry of service, as exemplified by Pope Saint Gregory the Great's designation of his ministry as "servus servorum Dei" (servant of the servants of God) . This emphasizes that the primacy is not about power separated from ministry, but rather power exercised in service to unity .
The Pope's ministry is intrinsically linked to the communion of bishops. Just as Peter was the head of the Apostolic College, the Roman Pontiff is the visible head of the College of Bishops . This collegial union is vital for the Church's life and activity . Individual bishops are the visible principle and foundation of unity in their particular Churches, but these particular Churches, to be fully Church, must be in communion with the supreme authority of the Church, which includes the episcopal College together with the Roman Pontiff . Therefore, communion with the Pope is an essential requisite for full and visible communion among all particular Churches .
The Eucharist is the supreme sacramental manifestation of communion in the Church . It signifies and produces the intimate communion of all the faithful in the Body of Christ, which is the Church . The celebration of the Eucharist demands intact outward bonds of communion, particularly in Baptism and priestly Orders . A truly Eucharistic community cannot be self-sufficient but must persevere in harmony with every other Catholic community, and this includes communion with its own Bishop and with the Roman Pontiff . Every valid celebration of the Eucharist expresses and objectively calls for this universal communion with Peter and the whole Church .
In essence, the papacy, through the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, is divinely instituted to be the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity for both the bishops and all the faithful. This ministry ensures the Church's communion with God and among its members, serving as a vital safeguard for the unity of faith and life across the universal Church, and finding its highest expression and means in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.