Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged newly ordained Bishops to place every person entrusted to their care in their hearts and to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.
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 their ministry comes with a special bond of fraternity and that they do not serve alone. He encouraged them to share the hopes, dreams, joys and difficulties of the people under their pastoral care.
He said every person should have a place in the heart of a Bishop because everyone already has a place in the heart of Christ.
The Pope also identified remaining close to Jesus as the most important priority for Bishops. He encouraged them to dedicate time to the Eucharist, the Word of God and personal prayer, including quiet moments spent in the presence of God.
Pope Leo called on the new Bishops to develop “the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd,” with their lives directed towards God the Father and devoted to serving others.
He said a Bishop learns every day to love his people more deeply by understanding their joys and sorrows, sharing their hopes and recognising the growth of their communities.
The Pope said this pastoral care should extend to all those whom Bishops encounter in their ministry. This includes priests and deacons, young people and families, as well as people facing difficulties.
He encouraged Bishops to learn the names and stories of the people they serve. In young Churches, he said, the personal presence of a Bishop can have a lasting effect through simple actions such as spending time with a priest or listening to a family.
Pope Leo also highlighted the missionary responsibility of Bishops, particularly in Churches that may have limited resources but possess strong faith. He urged them to preserve a missionary spirit and to remain attentive to the needs of their communities.
He described the pastoral responsibility of Bishops as a service of love, expressed through preaching, prayer, discernment and spending time with people. He placed particular emphasis on the need for Bishops to carry their priests in their hearts.
The Pope also addressed the rapid changes taking place in the world, including the growing possibilities created by artificial intelligence. He said Bishops must continue to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to everyone, stressing that technology cannot free humanity from sin and its consequences.
Pope Leo XIV further encouraged the Bishops to create opportunities for reflection and dialogue on his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. He said such discussions could help people contribute to building a civilization of love in line with the vision presented in the encyclical.
At the end of his address, the Pope called on the Bishops to keep their hearts open to everyone, including people who do not profess a faith.
He urged them to walk alongside their communities, pray with them, listen to the Word of God with them and celebrate the Eucharist with them as they seek the face of the Lord each day.