According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV opened the Diocese of Rome’s new pastoral year by calling for a shared process of pastoral evaluation focused on encounter with Christ, community, and service to the city, rather than simply adding new initiatives. Addressing the Diocesan Assembly at the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Pope outlined a method of stopping to evaluate past activities and determine what bears fruit.
Evaluating Pastoral Action and Avoiding Overload
Pope Leo XIV urged church communities to stop, reread what has happened, recognize what has borne fruit, and understand what has not worked, according to Vatican News. Speaking at the Basilica of St John Lateran, the pontiff noted that an abundance of activities can cause communities to lose sight of their evangelical center. Instead of asking what more to do, the Pope advised pastoral workers to focus on whom and how to encounter.
Did you know? Pope Leo XIV framed the current evaluation process around the Gospel account of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, using Jesus’ questions—“Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”—to guide the Church and the city of Rome.
Three Priorities for Diocesan Life
The Vatican reported that the Pope identified three principal areas for the Diocese of Rome to examine its pastoral life. The first priority centers on meeting Christ, assessing activities by whether they genuinely connect the Gospel with people’s lives. The second priority focuses on generating community, specifically offering young people time and attentive listening. The third priority is inhabiting and serving the city of Rome as the place of mission, where the Church shares local fragilities and questions.
‘Do Less and Do It Better’
According to Vatican News, the Pope emphasized that the evaluation process should not become another burden for priests and pastoral workers. Promoting the art of pastoral evaluation, he stated that the method gives the Church permission to do less and do it better. He also encouraged Rome’s Prefectures to foster priestly fraternity where ministers can share difficulties without shame.
Path to Sainthood for Don Luigi Di Liegro
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV recalled the example of Don Luigi Di Liegro, the Roman priest who founded Diocesan Caritas and worked for the poor and marginalized, as reported by Vatican News. The Pope announced that he gladly approved taking steps to initiate the diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of Don Luigi Di Liegro, looking ahead to the Jubilee of the Redemption in 2033.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main message of Pope Leo XIV at the Diocesan Assembly?
According to Vatican News, the Pope called for a shared process of pastoral evaluation focused on meeting Christ, building community, and serving the city of Rome, rather than piling on new initiatives.
What are the three main priorities identified by the Pope?
Vatican News reports the three priorities are meeting Christ, generating community, and inhabiting and serving the city of Rome.
What did the Pope say about priests’ workloads?
The pontiff stated that pastoral evaluation means giving the Church permission to do less and do it better, rather than creating extra burdens for clergy and workers.
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