Pope: “The hierarchy in the Church is not a human construct but a divine institution”
Leo XIV at the audience: the hierarchical structure – with the episcopate at its highest level – is a “sacred order” founded on the Apostles, “authoritative witnesses of the Resurrection”. To the Polish faithful: “Defend life from conception to its natural end”. Yesterday, at Castel Gandolfo: “Work for peace, not with weapons”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV addressed the theme of the “hierarchical dimension” in the Church during today’s audience, continuing the series of catechesis dedicated to the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The hierarchy “is not a human construct”, useful for the administration of the Church’s “social body”, but “a divine institution aimed at perpetuating the mission entrusted by Christ to the Apostles”, said the pontiff from St Peter’s Square.
Continuing his catechesis on the dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium, the Pope emphasised that this structure “works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all the members”; a “sacred Order” which is “permanently founded on the Apostles, as authoritative witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus”, who “transmit their ministry to men who, until the return of Christ, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church”.
This “apostolic succession” is explored in depth in Lumen gentium in Chapter III, entitled “The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church and in Particular of the Episcopate”, the Pope recalled. In it, “the fundamental structure of the Church is made explicit, received from God the Father through the Son and brought to fulfilment by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit”; the document deals with the “ministerial or hierarchical priesthood”, distinct from the “common priesthood of the faithful”, he said.
That is, the ministry entrusted to men “invested with sacred power for service in the Church”. The episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate are the “degrees of the one sacrament of Holy Orders”. “With […] ‘hierarchical’, therefore, the Council wishes to indicate the sacred origin of the apostolic ministry in the action of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as well as its internal relationships,” he added. At the end, the Pope asked for prayers “that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptised, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world”.
Greeting Polish-speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo XIV returned to speaking of our times “marked by the madness of war”, recalling the Day of the Sanctity of Life celebrated today in Poland. “It is important to defend life from conception to its natural end,” he affirmed. A special greeting was also extended to Arabic-speaking faithful from the Holy Land.
Last night, Pope Leo spoke briefly to the press as he left Villa Barberini, the residence at Castel Gandolfo. He called for a “ceasefire” in the Middle East and shared an appeal to “work for peace, but not with weapons”, that is, “through dialogue, truly seeking a solution for everyone”. “Hatred is on the rise, and violence is getting worse,” he observed. “More than a million” are isolated, and too many have died. “I call on all authorities to truly work through dialogue to resolve these problems,” he said.
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