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Pope to Spanish Bishops: Church’s strength comes from holiness of her children
Addressing the Bishops of Spain, Pope Leo XIV reminds them that the Church’s strength does not come from resources, “but from the holiness of her children,” and urges them to be father-like figures to the ‘simple priests’ in love with Christ and rooted in prayer.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“The strength of the Church does not come from the greatness of her resources, but from the holiness of Her children, from the communion of Her pastors, and from the humble and persevering fidelity of those who allow themselves to be guided by the Spirit.”
Pope Leo XIV said this while meeting with the Bishops of Spain at the headquarters of the Spanish Episcopal Conference in Madrid on Monday morning.
READ POPE LEO XIV’S FULL ADDRESS TO SPAIN’S BISHOPS
Encouraged them in their faith and commitment despite many challenges, he told Spain’s Bishops that they are called to “safeguard unity, foster dialogue, heal divisions and accompany the journey of the people entrusted to your care.”
‘We walk behind Him’
In his remarks, the Pope reminded them that “it is the Lord who leads us” and who is “the master of history and of each of our stories.”
“He,” Pope Leo noted, “determines the rhythm. We walk behind Him; indeed, we walk with Him as members of one body.”
This profound bond, Pope Leo insisted, demands that the Church, “in this time of increasing polarization and division, offer a witness to unity in diversity.”
The Holy Father called the Church in Spain to foster a communion capable of embracing the richness of the gifts, charisms and sensibilities, and stressed that in this task, the ministry of the Bishop takes on particular significance.
Lovingly safeguard the faith
“We are called,” Pope Leo said, “to be a visible sign of communion: first and foremost, of communion with Christ, lovingly safeguarding the faith we have received, in docility to the Word of God and to the living Tradition of the Church.”
This, the Pope said, requires living visibly in communion with the Successor of Peter and with the universal Church, “with the presbyterate and with the diocesan community itself, with consecrated life, with movements, with associations, and with every authentic charism that the Spirit bestows for the common good.”
Accordingly, the Holy Father told them to promote unity and accompany their people, to contribute to “missionary vitality.”
“A Church that is interiorly at peace,” Pope Leo said, “can speak more freely to brothers and sisters of other Christian denominations and other religions, to those who do not believe, to civil authorities, and to all people of good will who work for the common good.” The Holy Father also urged them to stay close to young people, seminarians and the vulnerable.
Entrusting their ministry to the Blessed Mother
The Pope went on to recalled that Pope Saint John Paul II had called Spain “Mary’s Land.”
Referring to the Blessed Virgin as “the mother of communion and hope,” Pope Leo said the Bishops have in her “their first companion on the journey and their greatest treasure.”
Mary, he said, “she shows believers how to welcome the Word and keep it in their hearts, accompany the disciples on their path, and remain present throughout the Church’s journey.”
“To her,” Pope Leo said, “I entrust your ministry, that she may help you in the midst of the people entrusted to your care.”
Safeguarding priestly life
The Pope also recalled that this year marks the fifth centenary of the priestly ordination of Saint John of Avila, patron of the Spanish clergy.
He remembered that Pope Saint Paul VI had described him as “a benevolent and wise teacher of the spiritual life, an exemplary renovator of ecclesiastical life and Christian customs” and, at the same time, “a simple priest.”
In this holy Doctor of the Church, Pope Leo said the Church recognizes the priestly life that every Bishop is called to safeguard and foster within his own presbyterate.
In this context, Pope Leo underlined that Bishops’ closest companions on this journey are namely “‘simple priests,’ in the highest and most demanding sense of the term,” who are “in love with Christ, rooted in prayer, faithful to the Church, close to the people, and capable of uniting sound doctrine, apostolic zeal and pastoral charity.”
Bishops are to be fathers who accompany their priests
The Pope told those gathered that priests should find in their Bishop “not only a recognized authority, but a father who accompanies them,” and in their fellow priests “brothers with whom to share the hardships and joys of this pilgrimage that is full of encounters, through which we all seek Christ.”
Pope Leo XIV said he wished to conclude with a prayer from the Saint who reminded believers that every ecclesial renewal is born of a heart conformed to Christ, when he said, “If you command me, Lord, to do what you did, give me your heart.”
Thus the Pope said we likewise pray, “Lord, give us your heart, a heart capable of lifting its gaze toward you, of setting out on the journey, of listening, of discerning, of serving, of correcting with charity, of attending with patience and of proclaiming with joy.”
“For the Church that receives the heart of Christ,” Pope Leo said, “carries with her the pillar of fire that guides Her, sustains Her, defends Her and comforts Her — the provisions necessary to face every challenge.”
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