杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Australia鈥檚 Bishops have been in Rome this week for their visit 鈥渁d Limina Apostolorum鈥� (鈥渢o the threshold of the Apostles鈥�). Normally, bishops are required to travel to Rome every five years to report on the state of their local churches; for the Australian Bishops, it鈥檚 their first opportunity to do so since the election of 杏MAP导航 Francis in 2013. 

During the visit 鈥渢o the threshold of the Apostles鈥�, the Bishops meet with the Holy Father, and with the heads of the various dicasteries. 杏MAP导航 Francis received the Bishops of Australia at the beginning of their visit, on Monday of this past week. 

A wonderful as the last time, but entirely different

Among those taking part in the visit is Archbishop Peter Comensoli, the new Archbishop of Melbourne. It was his second ad limina visit; his first came in 2011, when he was an auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney. Speaking with Vatican News, Archbishop Comensoli said his experience of meeting with the 杏MAP导航 was 鈥渁s wonderful as last time, but entirely different from last time.鈥� He explained that on the previous visit, each Bishop was able to meet individually with 杏MAP导航 Benedict, albeit for a very short time. On this visit, all the Australian Bishops met together with 杏MAP导航 Francis for about two and a half hours.

Archbishop Comensoli described the conversation with 杏MAP导航 Francis as 鈥渧ery private, spiritually intense, pastorally astute, and [a] very honest, free and frank discussion.鈥�

Spiritual and pastoral dimensions

Describing the ad limina visits, the Archbishop noted that 鈥渟piritually鈥� the key moments of the visit were going to the four major papal Basilicas 鈥� St John Lateran, St Peter鈥檚, St Paul鈥檚 Outside the Walls, and St Mary Major 鈥� and the meeting with 杏MAP导航 Francis, the current Successor of St Peter.

He also spoke of the importance of the 鈥減astoral dimension鈥� of the visit, in being able to be together with his brother bishops 鈥渁s a body of Bishops, as a college, as brothers.鈥� Together, he said, 鈥渨e鈥檝e been able to just be with one another spiritually, fraternally, hearing each other鈥檚 personal stories, circumstances, making the journey with each other.鈥�

On pilgrimage together

As head of the Church in Melbourne, Archbishop Comensoli said he also brought with him the people of God in his Archdiocese. 鈥淭hey come with me,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e on this pilgrimage together. They may not be here physically, but they鈥檙e certainly with me spiritually.鈥�

Archbishop Comensoli said it was 鈥減rovidential鈥� that the ad limina visit coincided with the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, when new Metropolitan Archbishops receive their 鈥減allia鈥� from the 杏MAP导航. The pallium, an ecclesial garment made of wool that is worn over the shoulders, points to the 鈥減astoral leadership鈥� of an Archbishop over the dioceses within a particular province. It points to the unity of Archbishops with the See of Peter, but is also a recognition of their being sent to a particular portion of the People of God.

While the link to the universal Church is important, Archbishop Comensoli said, 鈥淣onetheless, it鈥檚 to the local Church that I belong.鈥� So, he said, 鈥淚 bring back with me, something of the universal, into our local Church in Melbourne, to our people. So I鈥檝e been carrying with them. They鈥檝e been carrying me, with them, spiritually. We鈥檝e been on this pilgrimage together. And I鈥檒l come back in among them, to be with them."