Pope Leo XIV in Angola: Shepherds Who Walk Beside Their Flock

The atmosphere was that of family, of a Church in communion. The Pontiff, with an open smile and warm gestures, acknowledged each person's dedication. He began his remarks by reminding everyone that God is not indifferent to the effort and love poured into the mission. Every act of charity, every word of hope, every sacrifice made for proclaiming the Gospel is seen and valued by our heavenly Father. This certainty must be the foundation sustaining every Christian's ministry, especially those called to guide the flock.

The Danger of Self-Reference and the Antidote of Humility

With a pastoral yet firm tone, Leo XIV addressed a subtle temptation that can lurk in any ministry: turning inward on oneself. He warned about the risks of arrogance and self-referentiality, inviting all to constant examination of conscience. Arrogance arises when service transforms into domination, when the authority received for caring becomes an instrument for self-promotion. Self-referentiality is that vicious circle where our actions, projects, and concerns revolve only around ourselves, our group, or our institution, losing sight of the true horizon which is Christ and the people we serve.

The Pope recalled that the model for every minister is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life for his sheep (cf. Mark 10:45). The humility of Christ, who emptied himself by taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7), must be our compass.

"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" (1 Peter 5:5b, NIV)

Separating from the People: A Wound to Communion

A central point of the message was the strong appeal for pastors not to separate themselves from the people. This separation can be physical, creating social distance, but it is above all a separation of the heart. It happens when the problems, joys, struggles, and hopes of the community cease to be our own. Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the shepherd must smell like the sheep, know their scent, share their life. The Church is not a distant elite, but a people on a journey, where all are brothers and sisters.

This requires presence, attentive listening, and availability. It requires stepping down from the pedestal and walking side by side. The credibility of proclaiming the Gospel is directly linked to the authenticity of this relationship. How can people believe in God's love if they do not first experience it in the face and attitudes of those who claim to represent Him?

Open Wide the Doors to Christ

Faced with these challenges, what is the path forward? Leo XIV presented a clear and positive direction: opening our hearts completely to Christ. He invited those present to a radical, unreserved surrender. "Those who give themselves for Him receive a hundredfold," he recalled, echoing Jesus' promise (cf. Mark 10:29-30). True fulfillment in ministry does not come from power or recognition, but from the joy of belonging to Christ and being an instrument of His grace.

Opening the doors to Christ means allowing Him to transform our motivations, heal our wounds of pride, and renew our first love. It means making Him the center of our personal and ministerial life. When Christ occupies first place, everything else finds its proper measure: service becomes joyful, authority is exercised as care, and closeness to the people flows naturally as fruit of our union with the Lord.

The Pope concluded by encouraging everyone to persevere with hope, remembering that the Church in Angola, with its challenges and riches, has a prophetic role on the continent and in the world. He urged them to be builders of communion, witnesses of mercy, and heralds of the joy of the Gospel, always from the humility and proximity that characterize the missionary disciple.