杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Archbishop Jóse Gómez of Los Angeles says the Bishops of the United States have a very clear vision for the future. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear to us that the first priority is evangelization,鈥� he told Vatican News, 鈥渢rying to follow in the ministry of 杏MAP导航 Francis, especially helping people to understand that we all are called to be missionary disciples鈥�.

During their Fall General Assembly, which took place this week in Baltimore, the U.S. Bishops elected Archbishop Gómez as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Born in Mexico, he is the first Latino to head the Conference.

Describing his view of his new charge, Gómez said, 鈥淚 think鈥� one of the things that is essential for me [is] to really help Catholics to understand that their vocation is to grow in holiness, in personal relationship with Jesus鈥�, and then to promote 鈥渢he enthusiasm of sharing our faith with everybody else鈥�.

Committed to the ministry of 杏MAP导航 Francis

Asked about the relationship between the hierarchy in the U.S. and the 杏MAP导航, Gómez said 鈥渢he Bishops in the United States are totally faithful to 杏MAP导航 Francis and his ministry鈥�. He explained that the various documents promulgated by the Holy Father formed the basis for the Bishops鈥� discussions during the General Assembly, and noted that all of the American Bishops will be travelling to Rome over the course of the coming weeks for their regular 鈥渁d limina鈥� visits to the Holy See. 鈥淲e are excited [about] being with 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥�, he said. 鈥淪o I think we are totally committed to the ministry of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥�.

He dismissed any notion of division among the Bishops with regard to the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淚 think we are totally united in our ministry in the Church, and we understand that the Holy Father is the Vicar of Christ on earth鈥�.

Archbishop Gómez said that for the U.S. Bishops every single document of the 杏MAP导航 Francis 鈥渋s part of our ministry every single day鈥�. He mentioned in particular the Apostolic Exhortation Christus vivit that followed last year鈥檚 Synod on Young People; and the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, on the proclamation of the Gospel in today鈥檚 world. 鈥淐learly the teachings of 杏MAP导航 Francis are becoming a reality in many dioceses in the United States鈥�.