Last Saturday evening, Pope Leo XIV presided over the ordination of four new auxiliary bishops for the Diocese of Rome at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. The ceremony, led by the Holy Father, was a significant event for the Diocese of Rome, which has a special calling to universality and charity. The new auxiliary bishops – Andrea Carleval, Stefano Sparapani, Marco Valenti, and Alessandro Zenobbi – were appointed on February 25 and now begin their ministry alongside Pope Leo XIV.
In his homily, the Pope emphasized the unique role of the Diocese of Rome and reminded that the ordination is a celebration of the people, since the new bishops come from the people and the presbyterate. The liturgy was marked by prayers and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, who was to anoint the new bishops so that they might dedicate themselves entirely to the service of the Gospel of Christ.
The Mission: Let No One Feel Excluded from God
A central point of Pope Leo XIV's homily was the encouragement for the new auxiliary bishops to exercise their ministry so that no one feels excluded from God. The Pope referred to the image of the cornerstone from Scripture: "Jesus Christ is the stone that the builders rejected and that has become the cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:11). He called the bishops to go to the "rejected stones" of the city and proclaim to them that in Christ no one is excluded from being an active part of the Church and of fraternity among people.
The Pope recalled that Jesus himself sought out the outcast, sat at table with them, and disarmed the hearts of those who wanted to condemn them. This attitude, the Pontiff said, is a model for episcopal ministry: "By reversing the logic of domination, we become stones rejected by men and chosen by God, when we oppose projects that oppress the weak and disregard the dignity of every person."
The Role of Bishops in Today's World
The new auxiliary bishops take on an important task in the governance of the Diocese of Rome. They support the Pope and the Cardinal Vicar Baldassare Reina, as well as the other auxiliary bishops Renato Tarantelli Baccari and Michele Di Tolve. At a time when many people feel distant from the Church, the bishops' mission to build bridges and proclaim the message of hope is of great importance.
The Pope encouraged the ordained not to be satisfied with the privileges their position might offer, but to follow the example of Christ, who walked among people as an unarmed and disarming prophet. "Let the spirit of prophecy work in you," the Pope said, "and be witnesses of Christ, who came not to dominate but to serve."
Biblical Foundations for the Ministry of Bishops
The vocation of bishops is deeply rooted in Scripture. Already in the First Letter of Peter, believers are urged to let themselves be built as living stones into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). The Pope referred to this idea in his homily and emphasized that the Church is a sacred building in which every person has a place.
"For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith." (Galatians 3:26, NRSV)
This promise is valid for all people, regardless of their origin or life situation. Bishops are called to carry this message into the world and to ensure that no one feels excluded from God.
The Role of the Outcast in the Kingdom of God
Another focus of the homily was the reversal of worldly power logic. The Pope reminded that God chooses what the world rejects to build his Kingdom. "You are called to be living stones," he said, "and to build a Church where everyone has a place, especially those whom society marginalizes."
The homily concluded with a prayer that the new bishops be faithful to their mission and that the Church of Rome be a sign of inclusion and love for all.
Comments