BY Ian Dunn | November 5 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS     print icon print

2_LancioGrande

Pope praises real role of bishops

Holy Father emphasised during the general audience this morning that the episcopate is a service accepted out of obedience, not the culmination of a career

Pope Francis stressed how important bishops are to the Church in his general audience this morning and called for prayers for them.

“In the bishop, assisted by priests and deacons, it is Christ himself who is present and who continues to take care of his Church, ensuring his protection and guidance,” the Pope said. “In the presence and ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, we can recognise the true face of the Church: she is our Holy Mother the Hierarchical Church.”

“The Church’s motherhood is particularly expressed in particular in the person of the bishop and in his ministry. In fact, as Jesus chose the Apostles and sent them out to preach the Gospel and shepherd his flock, so the bishops, their successors, are placed at the head of the Christian community, as guarantor of their faith and as a living sign of the presence of the Lord among them.”

The Pope emphasised that the episcopate is a service accepted out of obedience, not the culmination of a career.

“There should not be room in the Church for a worldly mentality,” he said. “A worldly mentality speaks of a man who has an ‘ecclesiastical career and has become a bishop.’ There should be no place for such a mentality in the Church… It is sad when we see a man who seeks this office and does all he can to get it and when he gets it does not serve, instead goes around like a peacock and lives only for his vanity.”

The Pope noted that ‘when Jesus chose and called the apostles, he thought of them not as separate one from another, each on their own, but together, that they might be with Him, united as one family.’

“The bishops too are a single college, gathered around the Pope, who is the guardian and guarantor of this profound communion that was so dear to Jesus and His apostles themselves,” the Holy Father said.

The Pope concluded by calling upon the faithful, beginning with the clergy, to be united with, and pray for, their bishops.

 

[email protected]

 

 

Leave a Reply

latest news

Catholics among dead in Glasgow tragedy

December 23rd, 2014 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Memorial service held this morning, Mass to be celebrated for...


Prayers urged after George Square tragedy

December 22nd, 2014 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Concerns grow for those affected by a serious traffic accident...


Tom Clarke MP to challenge Parliament on conscientious objection

December 22nd, 2014 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Veteran Coatbridge and Chryston MP plans action in wake of...


Former First Minister’s generosity helps raise funds for orphanage

December 19th, 2014 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Alex Salmond has auctioned gifts received during his time as...




Social media

Latest edition

exclusively in the paper

  • Catholic MP Jim Murphy selected as leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
  • Kevin McKenna on why being pro-life is an uphill struggle in Scotland.
  • Fr Michael Conroy provides a timely insight into vocations and parish closures and how both will impact on parishioners.
  • Bishop Joseph Toal celebrates anniversary dedication Mass at Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral in Motherwell.
  • The double Christmas and New Year edition of the SCO will be in parishes from December 24, priced £2, covering the December 26-January 2 period with include all your SCO favourites including the Year in Review, messages from the Bishops of Scotland, Christmas short stories and much more. The next 2015 edition with be January 9.

Previous editions

Previous editions of the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper are only available to subscribed Members. To download previous editions of the paper, please subscribe.

note: registered members only.

Read the SCO