Pope Leo XIV urged the Diocese of Rome to prioritize pastoral evaluation,
encouraging clergy and lay leaders to focus on meaningful encounters with Christ, community building, and serving the city, while doing less and do it better
through discernment and collaboration.
Pope Leo XIV, addressing hundreds of diocesan leaders at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on September 18, 2026, outlined a vision for the Diocese of Rome centered on pastoral evaluation
as a method to refocus church activities on authentic evangelization. The pope emphasized that this process would not involve adding new initiatives but rather deepening existing ones by asking critical questions about their purpose and impact. The good doesn't make any noise; the Lord knows it,
he said, acknowledging the quiet dedication of parishioners and workers while urging a shift toward intentional, Christ-centered ministry.
The Pope’s Vision for Pastoral Evaluation
This process means stopping to reread what has happened, recognizing what has borne fruit, understanding what has not worked, and seeking together the reasons why,
he explained. This method, he said, would involve seeking the truth
by reflecting on whether church activities truly lead people to encounter Christ and address real needs. We are not starting from scratch,
he added, referencing the diocese’s prior work on spiritual illnesses
and the synodal process, which had already taught the community to listen and collaborate.
The pope’s call for doing less and doing it better echoed a key theme, emphasizing that the goal was not to reduce efforts but to refine them. The art of pastoral evaluation does not ask you to do more; on the contrary, it gives you permission to do less—and to do it better,
he said. This approach, he argued, would free priests and lay leaders to focus on what truly matters: fostering encounters with Christ, building inclusive communities, and serving the city of Rome. The Church does not exist for itself, but to lead every person to an encounter with the Lord,
he declared, framing the evaluation as a way to realign the diocese with its core mission.
Key Priorities for the Diocese of Rome
Pope Leo identified four central priorities for the diocese’s evaluation: (1) meeting Christ and helping others to meet him,
(2) generating community,
(3) inhabiting and serving the city,
and (4) forming the People of God.
Each priority required a reevaluation of existing initiatives. For example, he questioned whether parish activities genuinely led people to Christ or simply focused on organization and participation. Why are we doing it? What evangelical intention motivates us? What real need are we seeking to address?
he asked, urging leaders to reflect on the purpose of their work.
The pope also stressed the importance of listening to people who do not attend (church) and who see things, so to speak, 'from the outside.'
This included engaging with those outside the church to understand their perspectives and needs. An authentic encounter with Christ then becomes a source of missionary joy,
he said, emphasizing that communities should not remain anonymous, invisible, and misunderstood
but should instead be seen, known, and called by name.
This approach, he argued, would help the Church better serve Rome’s diverse population and address its expectations, fragilities, and questions.
The Role of Priests and Lay Leaders
Pope Leo called on priests to embrace a common method of listening, discernment, and conversion, urging them to listen before responding
and discern before deciding.
He emphasized that priests should not “do everything” but instead generate communion by recognizing the charisms and responsibilities of lay people.
This vision of shared leadership, he said, would foster priestly fraternity
where ministers could share their difficulties without shame.
The pope also highlighted the need for a priest who listens before responding, who discerns before deciding,
framing this as essential for guiding others in their spiritual journeys.
He further encouraged diocesan leaders to view pastoral evaluation as a collaborative effort, not a top-down directive. The method entails 'seeking the truth' by 'recognizing what has borne fruit, understanding what did not work and seeking the reasons for this together' with the entire church community,
he said. This approach, he argued, would ensure that changes were rooted in the lived experiences of priests, lay leaders, and the broader faithful, rather than imposed from above.
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene as a Framework
The pope’s address drew heavily on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, using her encounter with Jesus as a metaphor for the Church’s mission. Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?
he asked, framing these questions as central to the diocese’s evaluation. The vitality already present in the Diocese, he noted, included parishes, associations, movements, and other ecclesial realities engaged in evangelisation, charity, and prayer. However, he warned against an abundance of activities that could cause communities to lose sight of their evangelical center.
By invoking Mary Magdalene’s experience, the pope underscored the importance of personal, transformative encounters with Christ. Likewise, people in Church communities should not remain anonymous or invisible but should be seen, known, and called by name.
Implications for the Diocese of Rome
The pope’s call for pastoral evaluation signals a shift toward intentional, community-driven ministry in the Diocese of Rome. By prioritizing discernment over expansion, he aims to ensure that church activities align with the Gospel’s core message of encounter and service. This approach, he argued, would make the Gospel meet the concrete life of people
while fostering authentic relationships where people feel welcomed, accompanied, valued, and jointly responsible.
The diocese’s success in this endeavor will depend on its ability to balance tradition with innovation, as well as to engage both insiders and outsiders in its mission. Nothing we have experienced should be set aside,
the pope said, while also urging leaders to recognize what should be maintained, valued, corrected, abandoned, or initiated.
This dual focus on continuity and change reflects the complexity of guiding a large, diverse diocese in a rapidly evolving city like Rome.
As the Diocese of Rome embarks on this journey, the pope’s message serves as both a challenge and a call to renewal. I urge you not to bear these struggles alone,
he said, emphasizing the importance of communal support. The Church does not exist for itself, but to lead every person to an encounter with the Lord.
Whether this vision will translate into meaningful change remains to be seen, but the pope’s emphasis on listening, discernment, and collaboration provides a clear roadmap for the path ahead.
The art of pastoral evaluation, Pope Leo XIV said, does not ask you to do more; on the contrary, it gives you permission to do less and do it better. Pope Leo XIV