Pope Leo XIV Urges Bishops to Be 'Men of Communion' and Witnesses of Hope

Vatican City, June 25, 2025 : In a powerful meditation for the Jubilee of Bishops, Pope Leo XIV has called on bishops to live lives firmly rooted in God and wholly dedicated to the service of the Church. Addressing bishops gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, the Holy Father reflected on their mission to be "witnesses to hope" and "men of communion".

Speaking to the prelates who had entered through the Holy Door for the Jubilee, Pope Leo reminded them that before they are shepherds, bishops are themselves sheep—members of the Lord’s flock. “If we are to lead the Churches entrusted to our care,” he said, “we must let ourselves be profoundly renewed by Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in order to conform ourselves fully to His Heart and to the mystery of His love.”

Drawing from the Jubilee Bull Hope does not disappoint, the Pope offered a moving reflection on how bishops must serve as visible signs of hope through the witness of lives anchored in God and committed to pastoral service.

Bishops: Visible Principles of Unity

The Pope began by describing bishops as the “visible principle of unity” within their dioceses. Their duty, he said, is to build communion—both among their local communities and with the universal Church. This is achieved by promoting the diversity of gifts and ministries that contribute to the growth of the Church and the advancement of the Gospel.

To fulfil this task, Pope Leo explained, bishops are aided by “a special divine grace” that empowers them to be “teachers of faith,” “ministers of sanctification,” and faithful stewards of God’s Kingdom.

Living a Theological Life

Pope Leo further described the bishop as “a man who lives a theological life”—someone wholly open to the Holy Spirit and filled with faith, hope, and love. Like Moses, he said, the bishop is a man of faith who can “see ahead, glimpse the goal, and persevere in times of trial.”

The Pope emphasised that a bishop’s hope must not merely be expressed in words but demonstrated through closeness to his people. Rather than offering superficial solutions, the bishop must foster communities that live the Gospel with simplicity and solidarity.

These virtues—faith and hope—unite in the bishop as “a man of pastoral charity,” one who is sustained by daily prayer

Courtesy: Vatican News