“To create bridges”, always “knowing how to see the good, even that which is hidden, which is in the minority.” Leo XIV gave these two definitions of the Petrine ministry to the approximately one hundred apostolic nuncios he received in audience on Tuesday – one day after the Jubilee of the Holy See – along with a number of pontifical representatives to international organisations, and chargés d’affaires from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.
“Your role, your ministry, is irreplaceable”,
The Pope said in his opening remarks, unscripted, echoing what he had said at a plenary meeting of the Dicastery for Bishops. His words were quoted by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, who also announced a special lunch on Wednesday, “an occasion for conviviality” shared by those present together with the Holy Father, who during the meeting gave each of them a ring engraved with the words ‘sub umbra Petri’.
“You are already, as people, an image of the Catholic Church, since a diplomatic Corps as universal as ours does not exist in any other country in the world!”,
Pope Leo exclaimed: “no other country in the world has a diplomatic Corps as united as you are: because your, our, communion is not merely functional, nor an idea; we are united in Christ and we are united in the Church.” For the Holy Father, “the diplomacy of the Holy See constitutes in its very staff a model – certainly not perfect, but very meaningful – of the message it proposes: that of human fraternity and peace among all peoples.” “Your work very often goes before me”, the Pope said conveying his gratitude: “when a situation is presented to me that relates, for example, to the Church in a given country, I can rely on the documentation, reflections and summaries prepared by you and your collaborators.” “Through his Representatives, who reside in various nations, the Pope is able to participate in the very life of his sons and, almost by becoming part of it, becomes aware, in a surer and more rapid way, their needs and at the same time their aspirations”, the Pontiff said echoing the words of Paul VI.
“The ministry of Peter is to create relationships, bridges:
and a Representative of the Pope, first and foremost, serves this invitation to look into the eyes”, the core statement of his address: “Always be the eyes of Peter! Be men capable of building relationships where it is hardest to do. But in doing so, preserve the same humility and the same realism of Peter, who is well aware that he does not have the solution to everything: ‘I have neither silver nor gold’, he says; but he knows he has what counts, namely Christ, the deepest meaning of every existence: “in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, walk!.” The biblical image chosen by the Pope is the healing of the cripple:
“Even today, the Church often encounters men and women who no longer have any joy, whom society has sidelined, or whom life has in a certain sense forced into begging for their existence”,
contemporised the Holy Father. “To look into one’s eyes means to build a relationship”, he said referring to Jesus’ style of proximity.
“I am counting on you so that in the countries where you live, everyone may know that the Church is always ready for everything out of love, that she is always on the side of the last, the poor, and that she will always defend the sacrosanct right to believe in God, to believe that this life is not at the mercy of the powers of this world, but rather is traversed by a mysterious meaning”,
is the message of trust conveyed by the Holy Father to the pontifical representatives. “To give Christ means to give love, to bear witness to the charity that is ready for everything”, reiterated Leo XIV : “Only love is worthy of faith, in the face of the suffering of the innocent, the crucified of today, whom many of you know personally, as you serve peoples who are victims of war, violence, and injustice, or even of the false wellbeing that deludes and disappoints.”
“May you always be consoled by the fact that your service is sub umbra Petri, as you will find engraved on the ring that you will receive as a gift from me”,
the Pope’s encouragement: “Always feel you are bound to Peter, protected by Peter, sent by Peter. Only in obedience and in effective communion with the Pope may your ministry be effective for the edification of the Church, in communion with the local bishops.”
“Always have a blessing gaze, because the ministry of Peter is to bless, that is, always to know how to see the good, even that which is hidden, which is in the minority”,
the recommendation: “Feel that you are missionaries, sent by the Pope to be tools of communion, unity, serving the dignity of the human person, promoting sincere and constructive relations everywhere with the authorities with whom you are required to cooperate”, the mandate of Leo XIV: “May your competence always be enlightened by the sound decision for holiness. The Saints who were in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, such as Saint John XXIII and Saint Paul VI, provide an example to us.” “Your presence here today strengthens the awareness that the role of Peter is to confirm in faith”, concluded the Pontiff: “You are the first to need this confirmation in order to become its messengers, visible signs in every part of the world. May the Holy Door we all passed through together yesterday spur us to be courageous witnesses of Christ, who is always our hope.”
