Pope Leo XIV met with the bishops of Peru during their ad limina visit at the Vatican. The Pope urged the Peruvian bishops to live "in the manner of the Apostles" (ad instar Apostolorum). A central theme of the Pope's address was the necessity of real and heartfelt communion among pastors to maintain credibility. The meeting contextually marked the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, patron saint of the Latin American episcopate. Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for renewed fidelity to the Gospel, proclaimed in its fullness and integrity, when facing contemporary evangelization challenges.
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Pope Leo XIV addressed Peruvian bishops during their ad limina visit to the Vatican on January 30, 2026.1
He urged them to live "ad instar Apostolorum" – in the manner of the Apostles – amid evangelization challenges.1
The speech ties into the 300th anniversary of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo's canonization, patron of Latin American bishops.1
The Pope described the Peruvian bishops as fruits of this saint's evangelical seed in Peru.1
Unity among pastors and with the People of God is essential for the Church's credibility.1
He stressed overcoming divisions, ambitions, and isolation, drawing from early Church and Saint Toribio's example.1
Bishops must proclaim the Gospel in its fullness with courage and joy.1
This involves dialogue with culture while preserving Christian identity, echoing Saint Toribio's trust in the Word.1
Model ministry on Apostles and Saint Paul by becoming "all things to all people."1
Prioritize closeness to the entrusted, especially the fragile and vulnerable, sharing in their lives.1
Pope Leo XIV shared his pastoral experiences in Peru, calling it a special place in his heart.1
He learned from the people's simple faith and the Church's hopeful resilience amid trials.1
He entrusted Peru's bishops, clergy, religious, and faithful to Our Lady of Mercy.1
A special Apostolic Blessing went to those needing strength and consolation.1
Examine Catholic doctrine on episcopal communion and apostolic fidelity
Catholic doctrine underscores the profound unity of the episcopal college, rooted in apostolic succession, as the visible bond ensuring fidelity to the faith handed down from the Apostles. Episcopal communion manifests in the bishops' shared responsibility for the Church's mission under the Pope's authority, while apostolic fidelity demands unwavering adherence to Tradition through sacramental ordination and hierarchical communion. This interplay safeguards the Church's oneness, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity.
Episcopal communion is intrinsically linked to the sacramental structure of the Church, where bishops form a college that succeeds the Apostles. The bishop receives "the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders, which integrates him into the episcopal college and makes him the visible head of the particular Church entrusted to him. As successors of the apostles and members of the college, the bishops share in the apostolic responsibility and mission of the whole Church under the authority of the Pope, successor of St. Peter." This collegial unity is not merely organizational but sacramental, evidenced by the Church's tradition of multiple bishops participating in a new bishop's consecration, highlighting "the character and collegial nature of the episcopal order."
The particular Church, or diocese, exists in communion of faith and sacraments with its bishop, who is ordained in apostolic succession. These particular Churches "are constituted after the model of the universal Church; it is in these and formed out of them that the one and unique Catholic Church exists." Thus, episcopal communion ensures that local Churches remain united in the universal Church, with the Pope as "the supreme visible bond of the communion of the particular Churches." Without this, the Church's unity amid diverse liturgical traditions would falter, as fidelity to apostolic Tradition—communion in faith and sacraments received from the Apostles—serves as the unifying criterion.
Apostolic fidelity is preserved through the bishops' role as guardians of the deposit of faith. The Church "subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him," while acknowledging elements of sanctification outside her visible bounds. Bishops must embody this fidelity personally and collegially, as their ministry involves "preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, going ahead and leading, guarding the sacred heritage of our faith."
Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that a bishop must be "a man concerned for God," gripped by divine restlessness for humanity, mirroring the Wise Men's quest. Only such a shepherd, "seized by God’s concern for men and women," can lead with true apostolic zeal. This fidelity is not immune to human frailty—ministers remain susceptible to weakness, error, or sin—but the Holy Spirit guarantees the sacraments' efficacy, even if non-sacramental acts may bear human flaws. The rite of episcopal ordination reinforces this through probing questions like "Vultis?" (Do you want?), directing the bishop's will toward evangelization, mercy, and ceaseless prayer.
Historically, this succession traces to Christ's calling of the Twelve, extended through ordination by those already in apostolic ministry, forming the "episcopal ministry" or episcopos—one with a "vision from on high," looking with the heart as Christ, the Shepherd and Guardian of souls. Paul himself, though directly called, aligned his Gospel with the Twelve's, transmitting received truth faithfully.
The Pope's role is pivotal, requiring his special intervention for a bishop's lawful ordination to guarantee freedom and communion among particular Churches. Bishops exercise charity and apostolate under this authority, coordinating works while mirroring the early Church's communal life (Acts 2:42-44). In the ordination rite, candidates promise to be "welcoming and merciful to the poor," underscoring charity as integral to episcopal duty, though canon law coordinates it broadly.
This structure reflects the Church's threefold mission—proclaiming the Word (kerygma-martyria), celebrating sacraments (leitourgia), and serving charity (diakonia)—inseparable and constitutive. Bishops bear primary responsibility for charity in their dioceses, filling a canonical gap by explicitly linking it to their apostolic office.
Bishops must possess a "restless heart," watchful discernment, and "courage of humility," prioritizing God's truth over opinion, adoring the Incarnate Word to guide the flock. They are to be "men of faith," unsettled by God's pursuit of humanity, from crib to Cross. Such qualities ensure apostolic fidelity amid human limitations, as the bishop's life becomes adoration pointing to Christ, the true Star.
In summary, Catholic doctrine presents episcopal communion as the sacramental and collegial unity under the Pope that guarantees apostolic fidelity—the faithful transmission of Tradition through succession, mission, and personal holiness. This doctrine calls bishops to be men of God for others, preserving the Church's apostolic essence in every age.