Pope to new bishops: The most important mission is to ‘remain with Jesus’
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that bishops must first and foremost "remain with Jesus", placing discipleship above all other duties. He welcomed 147 bishops from five continents to a formation course in Rome, stressing communal prayer, listening, and shared hope for their dioceses. The Pope urged bishops to embody the "heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd", encouraging them to know their people by name, listen to their stories, and be present in their communities. He called on bishops to care deeply for their priests, offering support, encouragement, and prayer, especially for the elderly and ill clergy.
21 days ago
Pope Leo XIV told 147 newly appointed bishops that their primary mission is to remain close to Jesus, emphasizing that bishops are disciples before they are leaders. During a Vatican audience, he also urged them to cultivate pastoral closeness, care for priests, serve through love, and maintain an open and missionary Church. 1
The bishops, representing five continents, were in Rome for a formation program focused on strengthening ecclesial communion and equipping them for their ministry. Participants came from countries across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. 1
Leo XIV said their shared prayer, Eucharistic celebrations, conversations, and reflection on the needs of their dioceses should remind them that “no bishop walks alone.” The course centered on the theme “Bishops, Servants of Communion in the Church and in Today’s World.” 1
The pope identified closeness to Jesus as the most important responsibility of a bishop. He said bishops must allow themselves to be guided by Christ each day if they are to speak about him and lead his people. 1
He also called bishops to develop “the heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd,” describing it as fully directed toward God the Father and wholly dedicated to others. 1
Leo XIV urged the bishops to learn the names of people in their dioceses, listen to their stories, visit their homes when possible, and pray with them. He said that, particularly in younger Churches, a bishop’s presence can communicate deeply even before he speaks. 1
He described visits, blessings, time spent with priests, conversations with families, and dialogue with young people as small acts that can remain in people’s memories for a lifetime. He connected this pastoral attentiveness with sollicitudo pastoralis, or pastoral solicitude. 1
The pope said episcopal fatherhood requires a heart broad enough to include everyone and to carry the faithful in prayer before God. 1
The pope placed particular emphasis on bishops’ relationships with their priests. He asked them to act as fathers and brothers by listening to priests, encouraging them, praying for them, recognizing their achievements, and accompanying them with trust. 1
He gave special attention to elderly and sick priests, saying they should know that they remain valued, appreciated by the Church, and remembered by their bishop. Leo XIV said that a phone call, visit, or affectionate word can sometimes provide meaningful support. 1
Drawing on St. Augustine’s expression amoris officium, or “service of love,” Leo XIV described episcopal ministry as an expression of pastoral charity. He said preaching, listening, prayer, discernment, time spent with others, and personal presence can all become ways through which Christ reaches those he loves. 1
The pope placed this ministry within a rapidly changing world shaped by communications technology and artificial intelligence. While acknowledging the possibilities created by these developments, he said they cannot free humanity from sin and its consequences. 1
He linked the Church’s response to these circumstances with the Jubilee of Hope, celebrated the previous year, and said the Church proclaims salvation through Christ crucified and risen precisely because it is engaged with the world. He also referred to his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which he described as addressing the challenge of protecting what is human in the age of artificial intelligence. 1
Leo XIV urged bishops to open their hearts not only to practicing Catholics but also to Christians from other denominations, followers of other religions, people without religious faith, and all people of goodwill. 1
He said bishops should listen to and respect everyone, draw close to all people, and recognize the good present in every human heart. The address presented this openness as part of the missionary character of episcopal ministry. 1*
Bishops must prioritize discipleship by remaining with Jesus
The bishop’s ministry must begin with discipleship, not administration. Jesus called the Apostles “to be with him and to be sent out”; mission flows from communion with Christ rather than replacing it.
This means that a bishop’s authority and pastoral effectiveness depend on a life of holiness, prayer, listening to God’s Word, and conformity to Christ. Episcopal responsibilities cannot be reduced to managing diocesan structures or responding to immediate problems. The bishop must continually grow in personal sanctification and live in a way that reflects Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Remaining with Jesus also has practical consequences:
Thus, “remaining with Jesus” is not withdrawal from pastoral work. It is the source that makes pastoral work fruitful. A bishop who stays close to Christ can serve others with greater humility, courage, wisdom, and pastoral charity.