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This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the “Papal Foundation”, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you.

Your Excellencies, Dear brothers and sisters,

I warmly welcome all of you, especially the Members, Trustees and Stewards of The Papal Foundation, and I offer my prayerful good wishes for your pilgrimage to Rome.  While this is our first opportunity to meet since I was called to take on the role of Bishop of Rome and Pope, I have already been aware of your work, especially during my years of service as Bishop of Chiclayo, where I saw first-hand the positive impact of the Foundation’s grants, as both the Diocese and a religious community were blessed to receive assistance on various projects, thanks to your generosity.  In just this first year of my Pontificate, I have been edified to see the global reach of the Foundation.  I am, therefore, deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment to assist the Successor of Peter in his mission to care for the needs of the universal Church.  In this regard, I was pleased to learn that membership in the Foundation continues to grow each year and that you have expressed an openness to increase the support provided as well as find new ways of being of service.

Your visit occurs during the Easter season, a time focusing on mission as well as peace.  After the Resurrection, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to be his messengers, promising to accompany them in their work and promising to be with them always (cf.  Mk  16:20,  Mt  28:20).  The Pope and the bishops, as successors of the Apostles, continue this task through preaching and works of evangelization.  Yet all members of the Church, by virtue of our Baptism, share the responsibility to proclaim the Gospel today with words as well as with charitable deeds.  As Saint James wrote to the early Christian community, faith without works is dead and has no power to save (cf.  Jas  2:17), and the Gospels teach us that the Lord expects his disciples to care for the needs of the poorest and the most vulnerable (cf.  Mt  25:31-46).

By funding projects, humanitarian aid and scholarships for people from around the world, The Papal Foundation participates in the Church’s ongoing evangelical mission.  Your generosity has allowed countless people to experience in a concrete fashion the goodness and kindness of God in their own communities.  Many priests and consecrated men and women have likewise been able to receive an advanced education from the Pontifical Universities in Rome that would otherwise not have been possible, forming them to be future leaders in the Church.  You will probably never meet everyone who has benefitted from your kindness, so in their name I express heartfelt appreciation.

One of them is sitting next to me, however, who received a scholarship from you, and I am sure he will gladly say “thank you.”

On Easter Sunday, the risen Lord greeted his Apostles by saying, “Peace be with you!” ( Jn  20:19), and even today, Christ desires that his disciples be instruments of peace.  In addition to furthering the Church’s evangelical mission, the Foundation’s efforts also help to foster peace on the regional and local levels.  Saint Paul VI  wrote that development is the new name of peace (cf. Encyclical Letter  Populorum Progressio , 87).  By this he meant that true harmony is not simply the absence of conflict, but comes from actively promoting an authentic integral human development (cf.  ibid. , 76).  Fostering genuine progress through tangible initiatives like those supported by the Foundation is a sure way to encourage concord among communities and individuals.

Dear sisters and brothers, with these sentiments I thank you for your presence here today as well as for all that you do to further the worthy mission of The Papal Foundation.  I ask for your continued prayers for my ministry as the Successor of Saint Peter and for the needs of the Church.  In entrusting you and your loved ones to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy in Christ our risen Lord.

Thank you.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the employees of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Good morning everyone, and welcome!

I extend my warmest greetings to you, and thank you for the valuable service you carry out for the Italian Episcopal Conference and related bodies. I greet the president, His Eminence Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the secretary general, the directors of the Offices and Services, and every one of you.

Yours is a delicate task, the importance of which is emphasised in the Preamble to the Statutes of the CEI: “The Italian Episcopal Conference” – it states – “is an authentic and authoritative sign of communion among the particular Churches in Italy; it constitutes a legitimate and qualified representation of the People of God living in the country; it promotes the concerted action of the Italian Episcopate, in special harmony with the Successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome and Primate of Italy” ( Statute of the Italian Episcopal Conference , Preamble, 3).

Thank you, therefore, for what you do, at every level, from the most visible to the most hidden and everyday tasks. And here I would like to recall how important it is, for every institution, that each person remains faithful to their own task, to the most ordinary duties: a task carried out with care, a well-prepared meeting, the patience to listen attentively for a prolonged period, the dedication in responding to a request, and the very order and care of the surroundings. These are simple things, but they are useful for the good of all and great in the sight of God. In the life of the Church, nothing is small if done with faith, with love and with a spirit of communion.

In light of all this, I would like to pause to reflect with you on some aspects of your work that I consider important.

First of all, its nature as a service . The various offices in which you work are not structures that are an end in themselves, but tools with which you assist the Bishops and the Churches in Italy, so that the threads of communion may be closely woven and the fabric of the Church may be compact, rich in the Gospel and fruitful in gestures of closeness. It is a task of great responsibility: yours, in fact, is a “service to service”, a work that supports other works, a commitment that makes it possible for many people to contribute, a collaboration that helps the local Churches to proclaim the Good News, to walk together and to be a living presence of the Lord, in this country and throughout the world. What you do – even the most technical, administrative or organizational activities – is part of the mission of the one great family of God. Indeed, in the Church, to serve is not simply to perform a function, but to participate actively, as a member, in the life of a body whose head is the Lord. The centre, therefore, is never ourselves, our offices, our programmes, but it is Him, and every activity finds meaning when it helps, even in a humble and hidden way, in the encounter and union with Him.

This brings us to the second point of out reflection, which concerns belonging. Indeed, one cannot serve the Bride of Christ as a spectator, but only with the love of those who know they belong to her, in a bond of faith and communion that is first and foremost a gift of grace, a gift from God. I therefore invite you to live out your daily occupations as part of a mystery, a history and a plan that precede and transcend you (cf. FRANCIS, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium , 111). The places where you carry out your daily tasks are the first setting in which you are called to give shape to the Gospel, promoting unity and peace, with patience and humility, through mutual care and support. And this awareness must shape the way you perceive yourselves, speak, listen, correct and support one another, permeating your workplaces and giving rise to truly evangelical ways of life.

I would, however, like to add a final reflection, because service and belonging are inseparable from a third dimension, fundamental to the life of God’s people: mission. The Church exists in order to proclaim Christ, building bridges, forging bonds, offering welcome and help to those who are in need of support, a listening ear, and love, and you share in this mandate.

We live in an age of profound changes, in the family, in schools, in work, in communication, in social participation, and in the transmission of faith, even in Italy. In this context, the Lord asks us not to withdraw into ourselves or to be afraid, but rather to give of ourselves generously so that the Gospel may reach and enlighten every woman and every man today, with all their struggles, questions and hopes (cf. Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes , 1), so that all may “be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” ( 1 Tim 2:4).

Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for what you do! May the Lord bless you and your work, your families, your loved ones, especially children, the elderly, the sick and those who are going through moments of hardship. We entrust the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Churches in Italy and the journey of all God’s people to the Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine of Siena. Thank you!

Resignation of bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow, Russian Federation, and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow, Russian Federation, presented by Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, F.S.C.B., and has appointed Bishop Nikolai Dubinin, O.F.M. Conv., auxiliary bishop, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same ecclesiastical circumscription.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops;

- His Eminence Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Synod;

- Archbishop Walter Erbì, titular of Nepi, apostolic nuncio in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Gambia;

- Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, O.S.A., metropolitan of Panama, Panama;

- Archbishop Relwendé Kisito Ouédraogo, titular of Ilta, apostolic nuncio in the Republic of the Congo and Gabon, with family members;

- Members of the “Papal Foundation”;

- Employees of the Italian Episcopal Conference, with family members.

* * *

Activities of the Pope in the afternoon:

- Basilica of Saint John Lateran, episcopal ordination of auxiliary bishops of Rome.

Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Ecuador

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Washington, U.S.A.

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, U.S.A.

Appointment of auxiliary bishops of Washington, U.S.A.

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Laredo, U.S.A.

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Timmins, Canada

 

Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Ecuador

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Dagoberto Campos Salas, titular of Forotoniana, until now apostolic nuncio in Panama, as apostolic nuncio in Ecuador.

 

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Washington, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, United States of America, presented by Bishop Roy Edward Campbell.

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, United States of America, presented by Bishop Mark E. Brennan.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, until now titular of Aeto and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, as bishop of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala was born on 14 August 1970 in Chalatenango, El Salvador. After studying philosophy at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, he was awarded a licentiate from the Pontifical Scalabrini Institute of Pastoral Theology for Human Mobility in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 29 May 2004 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Mother Seton in Germantown (2004-2008), of Saint Bartholomew in Bethesda (2009), and of the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. (2009-2013); parish priest of Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Washington D.C. (2013-2017) and of Saint Mary in Landover Hills (2017-2023).

He was appointed titular bishop of Aeto and auxiliary of Washington on 19 December 2022, receiving episcopal ordination on 14 February 2023.

 

Appointment of auxiliary bishops of Washington, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has appointed the following as auxiliary bishops of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, United States of America: the Reverend Gary R. Studniewski , of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now parish priest of the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament , assigning him the titular see of Jamestown; and the Reverend Robert P. Boxie , of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now chaplain at Howard University, assigning him the titular see of Cataquas.

 

Curriculum vitae of the Reverend Gary R. Studniewski

Msgr. Gary R. Studniewski was born on 8 May 1957 in Toledo, Ohio, in the diocese of the same name. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Toledo and a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1995 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

After ordination, he first held the role of military chaplain (1995-2016). He was awarded a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College (2014), and went on to serve as administrator of Saint Xavier in Newtowne (2016-2017), administrator (2017-2018) and parish priest (2018-2022) of Saint Peter , and parish priest of the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament (since 2022).

 

Curriculum vitae of the Reverend Robert P. Boxie

Msgr. Robert P. Boxie was born on 12 September 1980 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the diocese of the same name. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard University, Cambridge.

He was ordained a priest on 25 June 2016 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

After ordination, he first held the role of assistant to the vocational director (since 2016). He was awarded a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome, and went on to serve as parish vicar of Saint Joseph in Largo (2017-2020) and chaplain at Harvard University (since 2020).

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Laredo, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Laredo, United States of America, presented by Bishop James A. Tamayo.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend John Gomez, of the clergy of the diocese of Tyler, until now vicar general of the same see, as bishop of the diocese of Laredo, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. John Gomez was born on 15 December 1975 in Colombia. He obtained a Master of Divinity from Saint Mary Seminary in Houston, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 23 May 2009 for the diocese of Tyler.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Holy Cross in Pittsburgh, Texas (2012-2017), judicial vicar (2014-2015), vicar general (2015-2023), parish priest of Christ the King in Kilgore (2017-2018) and of Saint Charles in Frankston (2018-2020); delegate of the apostolic administrator (2023-2025); vicar general and Moderator Curiae (since 2025).

He is also a member of the Presbyteral Council (since 2014) and of the College of Consultors (since 2015).

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Timmins, Canada

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Timmins, Canada, presented by Bishop Serge Poitras.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Msgr. Roch Martin, of the clergy of the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, until now vicar general, as bishop of Timmins, Canada.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Roch Martin was born on 26 September 1964 in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. He attended the University of Sudbury and Saint Paul University in Ottawa, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education. After several years of work as a teacher in Catholic schools, he entered the seminary and was awarded a master’s degree in theology from Saint Paul University.

He was ordained a priest on 10 November 1995 for the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Notre-Dame de la Merci , of St-Marc and Notre-Dame de la Rivière (1997-2000), of Annonciation and St-Dominique (2000-2001), of Saint-Jacques (2001), of Ste-Anne-des-Pins (2012), of St-Joseph (2014) and St-Jean-de-Brébeuf (2017); he is currently vicar general and Moderator Curiae of the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie (since 2021).