The "Acid Test" of a Bishop | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. | CWR Blog “The consequence of the love of the Lord is to give everything—exactly everything, even one’s own life—for Him: This is that which ought to distinguish our pastoral ministry. It is the ‘acid-test’ that bespeaks the profundity that we have embraced, the gift we have received. By responding to the call of Jesus, we show how much we are bound to the persons and the communities that have been entrusted to us.”
— Pope Francis, Profession of Faith at the Italian Bishops’ Conference, May 23, 2013
I.
At one point in his homily during the Episcopal Ordination of Michael Barber, S. J. to the See of Oakland, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, himself Barber’s predecessor in Oakland, told him that, at times, he would seem to be alone with huge problems on his shoulders. But he must remember that he is part of an episcopal college, men bound together in the same faith and love. He will not be alone. These words reminded me of those that I came across in Pope Francis’ reflections with the Italian bishops, his “Cari Fratelli nell’Episcopato.”Pope Francis likes to reflect out-loud, as it were, with fellow bishops. He prefers to call himself “the bishop of Rome.” The bishops had evidently just heard the famous passage of the Lord’s asking Peter thrice whether he loved Him, words that upset Peter at the time. “Such words,” the pope said, “have caused me to reflect very much.” He wanted to share his “meditation” with the these bishops.
The pope said that it was particularly appropriate that his first meeting with the Italian bishops should be at the tomb of Peter. Here we can also remember Peter’s “testimony of faith, his service to truth, and his giving himself even to martyrdom for the Gospel and the Church.” Essential to the reality of the Church is its memory of what it is, of what happened to its members, where and why.
This Altar of Confession, where they all were gathered, could be taken for the image of the Lake of Tiberius, the Pope said. It was here that Peter received his commission to “feed my sheep.” On the banks of this lake, the amazing dialogue of Peter and Christ took place. Christ directed His questions to Peter, but they should resound in the heart of every bishop.
Pope Brogoglio then slowly repeated the question three times: “Peter, do you love Me?” In fact, this love is the one essential question whereby alone a bishop can take care of his flock. “Every ministry is founded on this intimacy with the Lord.” This love is the “measure” of ecclesial service which is expressed by our “disponibility” to obedience, to our total giving of our selves. We are to be bound to the “persons and the communities entrusted to us.” This is the “acid-test” of our service.
II.
The pope then tells us what bishops are not, or ought not to be. “We are not the expression of a structure or an organizational necessity.” Even in the service of our authority, we are called to be signs of the “presence and action of the risen Lord.” Hence we are to erect the community in “fraternal charity.” We assume here, of course, that bishops are not to run shoddy or inefficient organizations in the necessary administration that they have to do.
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