Pope Leo XIV receives Panama bishops on ad limina visit

Pope Leo XIV received the bishops of Panama in audience on Friday, October 23, during their ad limina visit to Rome. The meeting, part of a visit scheduled from October 19 to October 24, served to discuss the realities and challenges of the Church in Panama.

Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, president of the Panamanian Episcopal Conference, told Vatican News that the Pope emphasized the mission of the bishops to promote dialogue, solidarity, and accompaniment for those in need. The Pope also addressed the issue of migrants and offered prayers for regions affected by an earthquake.

During the audience, Archbishop Ulloa presented the Pope with a handmade pastoral stole, or palio, crafted by an indigenous woman from the Ngäbe-Buglé region. The gift, created by an artisan from the Chichica community in Alto Limón, commemorates the centenary of the Archdiocese of Panama and serves as a sign of ecclesial communion.