Igreja: Papa rejeita centralização da vida paroquial nos padres e defende práticas de «verificação pastoral»

Pope Leo XIV rejected the centralization of parish life around priests during the opening assembly of the pastoral year for the Diocese of Rome. Speaking to hundreds of participants, the Pope stated that a community depending entirely on its priest is fragile. He explained that presiding over a community means generating communion and valuing the energy of others rather than doing everything alone.

The Pope introduced the concept of pastoral verification to guide diocesan action. This process requires communities to stop and analyze their initiatives by reviewing what happened, identifying successful projects, and understanding why certain efforts failed. He encouraged leaders to examine why some people participate in parish life while others remain on the margins.

Leo XIV noted that priests should not hold all responsibilities but should instead recognize spiritual gifts, form consciences, and enable lay people to share responsibility. He described this approach as a matter of faithfulness to the nature of the Church. He invited the entire community to participate in this verification process to seek truth together.