Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged newly ordained Bishops to follow the example of Christ, the Good Shepherd, by caring deeply for every person entrusted to them and by remaining close to the people they serve.
The Pope appealed on Thursday during a meeting with Bishops attending a formation course in Rome titled “Bishops, servants of communion in the Church and in today’s world.”
Pope Leo told the Bishops that they share a special fraternity and should remember that they do not serve alone. Their ministry includes sharing the hopes, dreams, joys and difficulties of the people placed under their pastoral care.
He said every person should have a place in a Bishop’s heart because every person already has a place in the heart of Christ.
The Pope also stressed that remaining close to Jesus should be the Bishops’ first priority. He encouraged them to give time to the Eucharist, the Word of God and prayer, allowing themselves to remain in the presence of the Lord with the openness of disciples.
Pope Leo called on the Bishops to develop “the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd”, with their lives directed towards God the Father and devoted to their brothers and sisters.
He said a Bishop should learn each day to love his people more deeply by knowing their joys and sorrows, sharing their dreams and rejoicing when communities grow.
This care, he said, should be shown in ordinary encounters. Bishops are called to know the names and stories of the people they serve, including priests and deacons, young people and families facing difficulties.
Pope Leo paid particular attention to young Churches, where a Bishop’s presence can have a lasting impact through simple acts such as spending time with a priest or listening carefully to a family.
He encouraged the Bishops to maintain a missionary heart, especially as they serve communities that may have limited resources but strong faith.
The Pope also urged them to practise pastoral solicitude, which he described as carrying people in their hearts, with particular care for priests. He said their ministry is a service of love expressed through preaching, prayer, discernment and time spent with others.
Addressing the rapid changes taking place in the world, including the growing possibilities created by artificial intelligence, Pope Leo said Bishops must continue proclaiming the Gospel of salvation to everyone. He stressed that technology cannot free humanity from sin and its consequences.
He also encouraged the Bishops to create opportunities for reflection and dialogue on his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, allowing people to contribute to the building of a civilization of love according to the vision presented in the document.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo called on the new Bishops to keep their hearts open to everyone, including people who profess no faith.
He urged them to walk with their people, pray with them, listen to the Word of God with them and celebrate the Eucharist with them while seeking the face of the Lord each day.