On this Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul Pope Leo XIV imposes the pallium on the new Archbishops including Archbishop James Checchio of New Orleans

 

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• Pope Leo XIV
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Pope invites new Archbishops to be 'Good Shepherds' on Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

During the Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to be inspired by the two Patrons of Rome who, despite their flaws, became extraordinary witnesses to the Gospel. He also invites the new Metropolitan Archbishops receiving their pallium to imitate the Lord and be Good Shepherds to the faithful entrusted to them.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"It is important for us today to look to these two Saints—Peter and Paul—to understand how we, in turn, can be apostles and builders of unity, and generous servants of the truth in charity."

Pope Leo XIV offered this reminder during the Mass he celebrated Monday morning for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of Rome, in St. Peter's Basilica.

READ POPE LEO XIV'S FULL HOMILY

During the Mass, there was the traditional blessing and imposition of the pallium for the new Metropolitan Archbishops.

Imposition of the pallium (@Vatican Media)

Two pillars of the Church

In his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the patron saints of the city and Diocese of Rome, recalling that Peter was chosen by Jesus as shepherd of His flock, while Paul was chosen as Apostle to the Gentiles. "In them," he said, "we venerate two pillars of the Church."

Turning first to Peter, the Pope recalled that the first Pope fostered unity and communion even in times of division and turmoil.

Peter was not perfect

This magnanimity, however, Pope Leo observed, "does not mean that Peter is perfect."

Indeed, the Pope recalled that during the Passion, Peter denied the Master, only later shedding sincere tears of repentance. Paul himself, in different circumstances, rebuked Peter for the inconsistency of some of his actions.

"Yet Peter," Pope Leo said, "knows how to acknowledge his mistakes and repent, without becoming discouraged and without failing in his mission to proclaim the Gospel and gather Christ's flock, even unto martyrdom—a fate which he suffered here in Rome, not far from where we are gathered."

Peter, the Pope suggested, ultimately embraced the mission entrusted to him by the Lord: "to listen, with His help, to the voice of each person; to discern inspirations; to guide the way; to correct errors; to instruct, encourage, exhort and accompany our brothers and sisters so that, docile to the action of the same Spirit, they may cooperate in the salvation of one another and of all humanity."

Peter's example, he said, "is an invitation to every Christian to become a builder of unity, placing God at the center of one's life and drawing close to one's brothers and sisters, attentive to their circumstances and needs," so that "we learn to live with one another in charity, so that the message might be fully proclaimed."

Statue of St. Peter in St. Peter's Basilica (@Vatican Media)

God won over the heart of young Saul

"This," Pope Leo continued, "is also the teaching of Paul, the other great apostle we celebrate today and the tireless herald of the Good News."

God, the Pope said, accomplished something wonderful in the heart of the young Saul, winning him over, bringing him first to conversion to the Gospel and giving him a new name, and then sending him to proclaim it throughout the world.

Like Peter, the Holy Father recalled, Paul bore witness to the Gospel even to the point of giving his life in this very city.

"The Apostle to the Gentiles," he said, "allowed himself to be transformed by the power of God's word, which rescued him from the way of violence and led him onto the path of love."

Pope Leo recalled that Saint Augustine, commenting on Paul's conversion and mission, observed that "God took the persecutor of the Church and made him a messenger of peace," forgiving all his sins and placing him in a ministry where he could forgive the sins of others.

New Archbishops entrusted with lambs of the Lord's flock

Looking to these Saints, Pope Leo suggested, can teach us how to promote unity and serve the truth in charity.

The Pope recalled that, in this spirit, they were about to celebrate the ancient and moving rite of the conferral of the pallia on the Metropolitan Archbishops.

"These bands of white wool adorned with crosses indeed express the commitment of every shepherd—and also of every Christian—to take upon their shoulders the brothers and sisters entrusted to them, like so many lambs of the Lord's flock, and to sacrifice their energy, time, effort and even their lives for them."

Pope Leo noted that at the heart of this selflessness is the desire that "the Gospel may reach everyone, and the whole world may find in it harmony and concord."

The Pope also said that, with these sentiments, he joyfully extended cordial greetings to the members of the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople present.

May Sts. Peter and Paul sustain us on our journey in the Savior's footsteps

Finally, the Holy Father invited, "Let us pray to Saints Peter and Paul that they may sustain us on our journey of communion in the footsteps of the Savior."

This, Pope Leo concluded, is the path "that the Lord has laid out for us, the very thing for which He prayed to the Father at the Last Supper, and the goal toward which He has taught us to aspire with confident hope."

Pope Leo XIV presides over Mass and the imposition of the pallium on this Solemnity of Peter & Paul

 

Pope

• saints and blessed
• Rome
• mass
• Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV: Peter and Paul, examples of communion and harmony

Presiding over the Mass on the Solemnity of the patron Saints of the Diocese and City of Rome, with the blessing and imposition of the pallium on the new Metropolitan Archbishops — Leo XIV invites the faithful to contemplate the two Apostles. Though different in their gifts and approaches, they lived “a fruitful harmony in diversity.”

By Edoardo Giribaldi

Pope Leo XIV presided over the celebration of Sunday's Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, patrons of the Diocese and city of Rome, in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass included the blessing and imposition of the pallium on 54 new Metropolitan Archbishops.

Pallium is the Latin word for mantle or cloak. It is a woolen band that is bestowed by the Pope upon the shoulders of Metropolitans or Primates as a testimony of their communion with the Bishop of Rome and their mission to spend their lives for the flock, imitating the Good Shepherd carrying His sheep on their shoulders. The pallium also signifies the power which the metropolitan, in communion with the Roman Church, has by law in his own province.

The Pope said we honor the two brothers in faith, Peter and Paul, “pillars of the Church.”

Martyrdom in common

“Peter and Paul were both ready to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel.”

A brotherhood in the Spirit

This communion, sealed by martyrdom, is reached through differing approaches to faith and distinct apostolic experiences. "Their brotherhood in the Spirit did not erase their different backgrounds."

Peter, the humble Galilean fisherman, responded without reservation to the Lord’s call and directed his preaching primarily to the Jews. Paul, by contrast, belonged to the “party of the Pharisees,” and began as a persecutor of Christians before his “life-changing encounter with the risen Christ” and call to bring Good News to the gentiles.

Evangelical frankness

“The history of Peter and Paul shows us that the communion to which the Lord calls us is a unison of voices and personalities that does not eliminate anyone’s freedom. Our patron saints followed different paths, had different ideas and at times argued with one another with evangelical frankness. Yet this did not prevent them from living the concordia apostolorum, that is, a living communion in the Spirit, a fruitful harmony in diversity.”

Recalling the words of Saint Augustine: “The feast of the two Apostles is celebrated on one day.  They too were one.  For although they were martyred on different days, they were one.”

A variety of gifts

This communion is made possible by the Spirit, who "unites differences and builds bridges of unity thanks to the rich variety of charisms, gifts and ministries."

“It is important that we learn to experience communion in this way — as unity within diversity — so that the various gifts, united in the one confession of faith, may advance the preaching of the Gospel.”

Differences into a workshop of unity

“[ Let us make an effort, then, to turn our differences into a workshop of unity and communion, of fraternity and reconciliation, so that everyone in the Church, each with his or her personal history, may learn to walk side by side.]”

The vitality of our faith

The second theme of his homily concerned the "vitality of our faith” as we remember the examples of Peter and Paul. With the risk of falling into "a rut, a routine, a tendency to follow the same old pastoral plans without experiencing interior renewal and a willingness to respond to new challenges," the two Apostles can inspire in us an openness to change, one that leads to questions and encounters with the “concrete situation" in the life of communities. They sought new paths for an evangelization that started with people’s questions and experiences.

Renewing vitality of faith

The question posed by Jesus in the Gospel reading at the Mass — “But who do you say that I am?” — echoes across the centuries, challenging each believer to discern whether their journey of faith maintains the “energy” and “vitality” — the “flame” — that sustains “our relationship with the Lord.”

“Every day, at every moment in history, we must always take this question to heart. ”

Church of Rome as a sign of unity

Answering these questions enables the renewal of the Church’s proclamation and mission. In particular, the ecclesial community of Rome is called to be — more than any other — a “a sign of unity and communion, a Church on fire with vibrant faith, a community of disciples who testify to the joy and consolation of the Gospel wherever people find themselves.”

The pallium as a sign of communion

The Pope then greeted the “brother Archbishops” called to receive the pallium — a vestment that signifies unity with the Pope himself — so that, in the communion of faith, each one may build up the local Churches entrusted to them.

Pope Leo also offered his warm greetings to the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent by His Holiness Bartholomew, expressing his "heartfelt gratitude." Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) was present at the celebration, as designated by the Ecumenical Patriarch.

He greeted members as well of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, thanking them for their presence and "pastoral zeal" praying that the Lord may grant peace to their people.

Intercession of the Saints

The Pope concluded the homily by expressing the hope for a shared journey “in faith and communion,” invoking the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul “upon ourselves, the city of Rome, the Church, and the whole world.”

Blessing and imposition of the pallium

Following the Eucharistic celebration — concelebrated by Cardinal Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Johannesburg, South Africa, and Cardinal Robert Walter McElroy, Archbishop of San Diego, USA — the rites of the blessing and imposition of the pallium were carried out. Deacons retrieved the vestments from the Confession of Saint Peter and presented them to the Pope. The Cardinal Proto-Deacon, Dominique Mamberti, introduced the new Metropolitan Archbishops, who then took the oath of fidelity to the Pope and the Church of Rome.

Archbishops from around the world

From the United States to Peru, from Italy to the farthest reaches of the world — Papua New Guinea, Guam, New Caledonia, the group of 54 metropolitan Archbishops featured a rich diversity, and on each one’s shoulders the Pope personally placed the pallium, exchanging with each an embrace and a few words.