Leo XIV: Successor of Peter and Bishop of Rome Presiding in Charity Over His Brother Bishops

Reflection on the Jubilee of Bishops – June 25, 2025

This morning, a group of around 600 bishops gathered inside the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the Jubilee of Bishops—a moment of grace and fraternity. The Mass, presided over by Cardinal Marc Ouellet at 10 a.m., was a solemn reminder of our shared vocation as “successors of the apostles.”

While the square outside shimmered under the searing Roman sun, where Pope Leo XIV simultaneously addressed thousands of pilgrims with fatherly courage, we inside the Basilica celebrated the Eucharist in the cool shade of prayerful reverence. After Mass, we removed our vestments and returned in black fillettata and prayed the rosary together as we waited quietly for the Holy Father.

At exactly 12 noon, Pope Leo joined us inside the Basilica and gave what I can only describe as a profoundly moving catechesis. It was not a speech meant to impress, but a fatherly word meant to pierce and renew. He spoke to us from the heart:

1. On Pastoral Simplicity – He called us to renounce the trappings of status and clericalism. A bishop, he said, must be close to his people and his priests—not distant or privileged. Our only authority is the authority of Christ’s love, made visible in service and humility.
2. On the Witness of Celibacy – He upheld priestly celibacy not as a mere rule but as a luminous sign—a way of life that witnesses to the Kingdom and reveals the Church as the chaste bride of Christ. He acknowledged pastoral challenges but invited us to guard the beauty of this vocation.
3. On the Scandal of Abuse – His tone turned earnest and resolute. There must be zero tolerance for any abuse of power, trust, or conscience. He urged us to be transparent, protective, and just—not only for the victims but for the healing of the whole Church.

After his catechesis, Pope Leo approached us Cardinals. I took the opportunity to say to him,
“Greetings from your brother bishops in the Philippines.”
To which he graciously responded,
“Oh, please extend my greetings to them too!”

That brief exchange felt deeply fraternal—a moment of communion across the seas.

Later, instead of joining the lunch at the Lateran Basilica, Cardinal Chito and I quietly returned to the Collegio Filippino for a simpler meal. But we carried in our hearts the richness of this Jubilee day—a day that reminded us who we are and whom we serve.

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, was among the 133 cardinal-electors in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. A biblical scholar and outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice, Cardinal David is known for his pastoral presence in impoverished communities and his strong stance against violence, poverty, and corruption in Philippine society.