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

Peace be with you!

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,

Reverend Superiors,

I am happy about this meeting, and find the occasion that generates it beautiful: the choice of two Religious Congregations to meet and dialogue with those brethren whose episcopal ministry they have given to the Church. This is an exchange that certainly enriches the Bishops present, your Communities and the entire People of God, as the Second Vatican Council teaches (cf. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 7; Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes – Congregation for Bishops, Directives for the Mutual Relations Between Bishops and Religious in the Church, 2).

The Church is grateful to your Institutes, of whom it has asked, with the appointment of bishops among its members, a not inconsiderable sacrifice in times of a shortage of religious brothers, when depriving you of confrères engaged in the service of various works entails not a few problems. Perhaps the General will say something to me, but… [laughter]. At the same time, though, it has given a great gift to your Congregations, because service to the universal Church is the most beautiful grace and joy for any religious family, as your Founders would certainly confirm.

You in particular, Scalabrinian and Redemptorist religious, chosen and consecrated for service to the Episcopate and also to the Cardinals, bring into your ministry the legacy of two important charisms, especially in our days: service to migrants and the evangelization of the poor and the distant.

Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori, entering into contact with the poverty of the most neglected neighbourhoods of Naples in the eighteenth century, renounced a wealthy life and a lucrative career, embracing the mission of bringing the Gospel to the last.

Saint John Baptist Scalabrini, a century later, was able to feel and understand the hopes and sufferings of the many people who left, leaving everything behind, in search of a better future for themselves and their families in faraway lands.

Both of them were Founders, became bishops, and knew how to respond to the challenges of social and economic systems which on the one hand opened new frontiers at various levels, but on the other left behind a great deal of unheeded misery and many problems, creating pockets of degradation that no one seemed to want to deal with.

At a historic moment that also presents great opportunities and at the same time no shortage of difficulties and contradictions, by celebrating the Jubilee of hope we want to recall that, today as yesterday, the voice to listen to in order to understand what to do is that of “the love of God … poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rm 5:5).

Even in our world, the Lord’s work always goes before us: we are required to conform our minds and hearts to it through wise discernment, and I am convinced that the discussion you have promoted will be very useful to this end. I encourage you, therefore, to maintain and to nurture, also for the future, these relations of fraternal help, with generosity and selflessness, for the good of all Christ’s flock. I thank you for the great work you do, and I bless you heartily, together with all your communities. Thank you!

[Prayer: Pater Noster]

[Blessing]
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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 26 June 2025