Pope Leo XIV presides over Diocese of Rome assembly

Pope Leo XIV presided over the Rome Diocesan Assembly at St. John Lateran Basilica on Friday, September 18, to officially open the new pastoral year. During the meeting, the Pope announced his approval of a diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of Luigi Di Liegro, the founder and first director of Caritas Roma.

Addressing the assembly, the Pope encouraged priests to avoid centralizing all parish responsibilities and instead promote the shared responsibility of laypeople. He introduced a method called "pastoral verification," which asks communities to systematically evaluate their activities to see what has been fruitful and why certain people remain on the margins. He instructed the diocese to focus less on "what" to do and more on "whom" to find, emphasizing that pastoral work must begin with an encounter with people.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, welcomed the Pope and noted that the assembly included representatives from parish communities and various participation organizations. The Pope described the city of Rome not as an indifferent backdrop, but as a place of mission to be inhabited and served.