Pope Leo XIV calls on Latin American bishops to lead from ground, not ‘behind a desk’

Pope Leo XIV urged bishops in Latin America and the Caribbean to engage directly with their communities rather than leading from offices. In a letter dated Sept. 8, the pope encouraged bishops to prioritize the needs of the faithful by conducting active pastoral visits and seeking out people who rarely have the chance to meet their bishop.

The Vatican released the letter on Sept. 19 to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, a 16th-century Spanish missionary bishop who evangelized Peru. Pope Leo XIV cited the saint as an example of pastoral charity and noted that his own time serving as a bishop in Peru helped him understand the importance of being a shepherd.

The pope wrote that certain aspects of a diocese are difficult to understand from behind a desk. He stated that a bishop's ministry requires living with a heart in heaven and feet on the road.