June 25, 2025
On June 25, 2025, during the Jubilee of Bishops in Rome, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful message to bishops worldwide, emphasizing their vital role as pastors, teachers, and unifiers within the Catholic Church. This event forms part of the broader 2025 Jubilee celebrations, highlighting diverse vocations and ministries in the Church. The Holy Father’s reflections offer deep spiritual guidance rooted firmly in Catholic doctrine and serve as a source of inspiration and renewal for bishops and the faithful alike.
Pope Leo XIV began his meditation by reminding bishops that they are the visible principle of unity in their local Churches. Each bishop is entrusted with building communion among the faithful and ensuring their connection to the universal Church. This unity is not uniformity but a harmonious fostering of the variety of charisms and ministries God has bestowed for the growth of the Church and the spread of the Gospel.
The bishop’s mission is deeply communal and pastoral; it requires him to be both a servant and a leader who nurtures the bonds of faith, hope, and charity within his diocese. This principle echoes the Church’s teaching that bishops succeed the Apostles and thus maintain the Church’s apostolic unity and mission in the world.
The Holy Father urged bishops to be profoundly renewed by Jesus, the Good Shepherd, conforming themselves to His Heart and divine love. This intimate union with Christ is essential for authentic pastoral leadership. Only by allowing themselves to be guided and transformed by Jesus can bishops effectively guide their flocks through the joys and trials of life.
This renewal calls for humility and a recognition that before being shepherds, bishops remain sheep in the Lord’s flock, dependent on His grace and mercy. It is a reminder that pastoral authority is a service deeply rooted in love and self-giving, reflecting Christ’s own pastoral example.
The Jubilee theme “Hope does not disappoint” serves as a prophetic call for bishops to be witnesses of hope for the Church and the world. This hope is grounded in the faithfulness of God and the promise of salvation. Bishops, as heirs of the apostolic mission, must transmit this hope through their teaching, governance, and example.
Their role involves being not only leaders but consolers to those afflicted by suffering or discouragement, helping the faithful to persevere in faith. Their witness encourages the entire People of God to live out the Gospel with courage and joy, even when facing difficulties or opposition.
Pope Leo XIV also addressed one of the Church’s most pressing challenges: the necessity for bishops to act decisively and with firmness in confronting scandals, particularly sexual abuse. He connected vigilance and holiness, emphasizing that safeguarding the Church’s integrity is a pastoral priority requiring courage and responsibility.
Bishops must foster transparency, justice, and healing in their dioceses, ensuring that the Church remains a safe and holy place for all her members. This commitment resonates deeply with the Church’s ongoing efforts to renew trust and demonstrate zero tolerance for abuse.
Another key theme of the pope’s message was the call for bishops to live simply and humbly, embodying Christlike shepherds close to their people. Rather than seeking worldly power or prestige, bishops are encouraged to immerse themselves in the realities of their communities, sharing in the joys, sufferings, hopes, and struggles of the faithful.
Such pastoral closeness strengthens communion and models the servant leadership taught by Christ. It helps bishops to be credible witnesses of the Gospel and effective teachers of faith, inspiring both clergy and laity.
The reflection also highlighted the special grace given to bishops to teach faith authentically and to sanctify the Church through the sacraments. This divine assistance empowers them to faithfully interpret and proclaim the deposit of faith, to nurture holiness among the faithful, and to foster the spiritual growth of their communities.
This sacred responsibility calls for constant prayer, study, and pastoral sensitivity, ensuring that bishops remain true teachers and ministers of sanctification in their service to God’s people.
The 2025 Jubilee of Bishops is a significant occasion for recommitment and spiritual renewal within the Church’s hierarchy. It serves as an opportunity for bishops to deepen their communion with one another and with the Holy Father, reinforcing the bonds of apostolic succession and unity.
As the Church navigates contemporary challenges — from secularism to social injustices and internal wounds — the vitality and fidelity of its bishops are crucial. Their embrace of pastoral charity, teaching authority, and courageous leadership will shape the Church’s mission in the years ahead.
Ultimately, the pope’s call is not only for bishops but for the entire Catholic community. When bishops live their vocation authentically — grounded in Christ, united in faith, and devoted to service — the whole Church is enriched. The faithful are encouraged and strengthened in their journey towards holiness and mission.
The Jubilee invites all Catholics to pray for their shepherds and to collaborate with them in building a Church that is a sign of hope, communion, and love, fully alive in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pope Leo XIV’s message at the Jubilee of Bishops models the Church’s universal call to holiness and unity. It reminds all that pastoral leadership is a sacred trust requiring faith, courage, and charity. This teaching will resonate deeply within the global Catholic community, inspiring renewed commitment to the Church’s mission as a pilgrim people guided by the Good Shepherd.
The Jubilee of Bishops, marked by Pope Leo XIV’s profound meditation, stands as a seminal moment for pastoral renewal and ecclesial unity. It reaffirms the timeless role of bishops as teachers, sanctifiers, and shepherds — a role that, when embraced fully, will bring hope and renewal to the Church in our time.