Pope Leo XIV tells Diocese of Rome to do less, do it better

Pope Leo XIV told the Diocese of Rome to prioritize evaluating its current activities rather than starting new programs as the new pastoral year begins. Speaking at the Diocesan Assembly at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on Friday, the Pope proposed a method of pastoral evaluation to help the diocese understand which efforts are successful and which are not.

The Pope suggested that the process should involve the entire Church community and include listening to people who do not regularly attend Church services. He noted that while the diocese has many active parishes, associations, and movements, an excess of activities can distract communities from their central mission. He encouraged leaders to stop and review past actions to determine why certain efforts produce results while others remain isolated.