Pope says a bishop is not a bureaucrat

(September 13, 2010) A bishop is not a mere governor, a bureaucrat, a simple moderator or organiser of diocesan life. Rather, he is “a father, brother and friend” on a “Christian and human journey”, who must be able to “create a climate of trust, acceptance, love, as well as of openness and justice”. This was the advice he offered on Monday to 120 newly-appointed bishops from around the world who are participating in a course in Rome promoted by the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops. The Pope outlined a “true programme for the life of every bishop” particularly referring to St. Thomas Aquinas according to whom “authority” and “charity” are the fundamental requirements for a bishop. He also pointed to the Church’s dogmatic constitution, “Lumen Gentium”, in which the bishop who is called to serve and not to be served, should “have compassion for the ignorant and erring”. “The mission of the bishop,” the Pope said, “should not be understood in the light of efficiency and efficacy which primarily calls for what has to be done; rather one should always keep in mind the ontological dimension, on which is based the functional dimension.” The bishop’s ministry, thus “fits into a profound perspective of faith, and not simply into a human, administrative or sociological one”. Pope Benedict said that the role of a bishop is of great responsibility both for the good of the diocese as well as of society. Referring to the rite of consecration of a bishop Pope Benedict spoke about the bishop’s ring as a sign of fidelity to the Church and the purity of faith which he has to safeguard. But he said, this consist not merely in preserving what has been established, but essentially includes also the dynamic aspect – that of a perpetual and concrete tendency towards perfection in full harmony and in continuous adaptation to new demands arising from development and progress within the living community.