What Does It Mean to Be a Bishop? A Catechesis by Leo XIV to the Latin American Episcopate (a source of spiritual and pastoral enrichment for any priest)

Pope Leo XIV sent a letter to the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. The letter, written at the request of the bishops of Peru, provides a catechesis on the meaning of the episcopal ministry.

In the letter, the Pope uses the rite for the dedication of a cathedral to reflect on the mission of a bishop. He connects his reflections to the life of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, the patron saint of the Latin American episcopate, noting the saint's history of evangelization, his work in renewing Church life, and his service to the poor and vulnerable. The Pope also noted his own personal experience serving as a bishop in Peru.