Papa: em carta, Pontífice reflete sobre o ministério episcopal

Pope Leo XIV issued a letter to the bishops of Latin America on September 19, 2026, reflecting on the nature of episcopal ministry. The Pope wrote the letter to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, the former Archbishop of Lima.

The Pope connects the rituals used when a bishop is welcomed into his cathedral to the daily mission of a bishop visiting pastoral communities. He uses symbols such as the crucifix and holy water to describe a ministry centered on interior life and the need to avoid personal advantages or fear. He also describes the transformative power of adoration and the importance of using Apostolic Letters as a guide for the faithful.

Drawing on his own pastoral experience in Peru, the Pope compares the initial entry of a bishop into his cathedral with the repeated entries a bishop makes into the various communities within his diocese. He suggests these rituals serve to remind prelates of the original meaning of their calling.