Leo XIV to the new Bishops: Remain with Jesus, the “Good Shepherd,” to keep a missionary heart

Vatican City (Fides News Agency) – A heart “completely turned toward the Father and, precisely for that reason, totally given to the brothers”: this is the central image chosen by Pope Leo XIV to describe the identity of a Bishop. He spoke as he received in audience, on September 10, the participants in formation courses for new Bishops promoted by the Dicasteries for Bishops, for the Eastern Churches and for Evangelization.

A total of 147 Bishops from the five continents came to Rome for the courses, which concluded today with Mass and the veneration of the relics of the Apostle Peter in the Vatican Basilica.

Before beginning his address, the Pope asked those present to pray for the eternal rest of the father of the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Tagle. He led those present in praying a Hail Mary for the consolation of the family.

The Pope assured the new bishops – and, through them, their Churches – of a place in his prayers, explaining: “All must find a place in the heart of the bishop, because all already have a place in the heart of Christ.” It was from this that the reflection offered by the Successor of Peter to the new Successors of the Apostles sprang.
The first priority, the Pope said, is to remain with Jesus. “Among the many things you will be called to do as bishops, this is the most important. We are bishops, but above all we are disciples,” he insisted. “He appointed twelve,” the Gospel of St Mark tells us, “whom he also named apostles, to be with him and to be sent out to preach.” The Bishop of Rome continued: “This is the order of the Gospel: to remain with Him and, from Him, to be sent.” He encouraged the new Bishops to safeguard the time devoted to the Eucharist, the Word of God and silent prayer.

The Pope then highlighted a second aspect, described as the most distinctive feature of the episcopate: “to have the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, a heart completely turned toward the Father and, precisely for that reason, totally given to the brothers.” Quoting the Gospel of John, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep,” the Pope addressed the Bishops directly: “Love the people the Lord has entrusted to you. Learn their names, listen to their stories, enter, when you can, into their homes, pray with them.” Especially in young Churches, he observed, “the presence of the Bishop says a great deal, even before his words. A visit, a blessing, the time dedicated to a priest, listening to a family, dialogue with a young person: these are small gestures, but they can remain in a person’s soul for a lifetime.”

This emphasis by Leo XIV on the pastoral heart closely recalls a theme dear to his predecessor. On October 24, 2024, Pope Francis devoted his entire Encyclical Dilexit nos to the human and divine love of the Heart of Christ, presenting it as a key to understand the life of the Church and the ministry of her pastors.

The Pope then referred to what tradition calls “sollicitudo pastoralis,” pastoral solicitude, which St Paul described in his Second Letter to the Corinthians as his “daily concern”. This is a characteristic of “episcopal fatherhood”, whereby the Church entrusted to the Bishop becomes “more and more part of your life, almost part of yourselves”. Quoting from a homily Pope Francis gave on May 18, 2020, Leo XIV recalled that “closeness is one of the traits of God with his people”, adding words Pope Francis himself addressed to Bishops attending the formation course on September 12, 2019: “We exist in order to make this closeness palpable.” Hence his appeal to love priests, especially those who are elderly or ill: “Make them feel that they are valuable, that the Church is grateful to them and that the bishop does not forget them.”

Recalling St Augustine, who described his own ministry as an amoris officium (In Iohannis Evangelium, 123, 5), a service of love, Leo XIV connected this pastoral charity with the questions posed by the present age. He cited his own Encyclical Magnifica humanitas, explaining that he had sought to offer “in primis to the pastors of the Churches, a vision and a method to face the great challenge of safeguarding the human in the age of artificial intelligence.” He encouraged the Bishops to promote in their dioceses “paths of reflection and dialogue,” to the service of the “civilization of love”.

To the many Bishops from young and mission Churches, the Pope asked them to keep “a missionary heart”, capable of opening itself “not only to those who frequent our parishes, but also to Christians of other confessions, to believers of other religions, to people who do not profess a faith, to all men and women of good will”. Quoting St Augustine once again – “Vobis enim sum episcopus, vobiscum sum christianus”, “you all know it, I think—, “for you […] I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian” (Sermo 340, 1) – Leo XIV invited the new Bishops to walk with their people, praying, listening to the Word and celebrating the Eucharist together with the faithful.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Pope assured the Bishops, as they prepared to return to their respective dioceses, of the faithfulness of the Lord who called them and who will go before them on their journey. He entrusted them, together with their peoples, to the maternal care of Mary, Mother of the Church.
(MLK) (Fides News Agency, 10/9/2026)

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