Leo XIV receives El Salvador bishops

Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with the bishops of El Salvador on Friday, 11 September, marking the conclusion of their ad limina visit to Rome.

Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez described the meeting as a cordial, intense, and inspiring exchange. While he did not disclose the specific topics discussed, he noted that the bishops presented the main challenges facing their country. Rosa Chávez emphasized the importance of viewing the reality in El Salvador through the lens of human dignity and stated that the Pope invited the bishops to keep the human person at the center of their work.

Rosa Chávez also remarked that the Pope possesses an incredible knowledge of the Salvadoran land. He expressed hope that the visit would help bring a message of hope, dialogue, and a sense of the future to the nation. He described the Church in El Salvador as being full of love for the Pope, the Eucharist, and the Virgin Mary, noting that the community remains hopeful despite significant suffering.