Pope Leo XIV says "the Church is not something we invented, but is a divine institution established by Jesus himself...placing Peter at their head" FULL TEXT

Pope LEO XIV at the GENERAL AUDIENCE
in the Vatican's St Peter's Square
Wednesday, 25 March 2026Catechesis. The Documents of Vatican Council II. II. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. 5. On the foundation of the Apostles. The Church in her hierarchical dimension"
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

We will continue our catecheses on the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, commenting on the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium on the Church (LG).

After presenting her as the People of God, today we will consider her hierarchical form.

The Catholic Church is founded on the Apostles, whom Christ appointed as the living pillars of His mystical Body, and possesses a hierarchical structure that works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all her members. This sacred Order is permanently founded on the Apostles (cf. Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14), as authoritative witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:22; 1 Cor 15:7) and sent by the Lord Himself on mission into the world (cf. Mk 16:15; Mt 28:19). Since the Apostles are called to faithfully preserve the Master’s salvific teaching (cf. 2 Tim 1:13–14), they hand on their ministry to men who, until Christ’s return, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church “through their successors in pastoral office” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 857).

This apostolic succession, founded on the Gospel and in the Tradition, is explored further in Chapter III of Lumen gentium, entitled “On the hierarchical structure of the Church and in particular on the Episcopate”. The Council teaches that the hierarchical structure is not a human construct, functional to the internal organization of the Church as a social body (cf. LG, 8), but a divine institution whose purpose is to perpetuate the mission given by Christ to the Apostles until the end of time.

The fact that this theme is addressed in Chapter III, after the first two chapters have considered the very essence of the Church (cf. Acta Synodalia III/1, 209–210), does not imply that the hierarchical constitution is a subsequent element with respect to the People of God: as the Decree Ad gentes notes, “the Apostles were the first budding-forth of the New Israel, and at the same time the beginning of the sacred hierarchy” (no. 5), inasmuch as they were the community of those redeemed by Christ’s Paschal Mystery, established as a means of salvation for the world.

To understand the Council’s intention, it is advisable to read carefully the title of Chapter III of Lumen gentium, which explains the fundamental structure of the Church, received from God the Father through the Son and brought to fulfilment by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Council Fathers did not want to present the institutional elements of the Church, as the noun “constitution” might imply if understood in the modern sense. The Document concentrates instead on the “ministerial or hierarchical priesthood”, which differs “in essence and not only in degree” from the common priesthood of the faithful, recalling that the latter are “nonetheless interrelated: each of them in its own special way is a participation in the one priesthood of Christ” (LG, 10). The Council thus addresses the ministry conferred upon men endowed with sacra potestas, sacred power (cf. LG, 18) for service in the Church: it focuses in particular on the episcopate (LG, 18–27), then on the priesthood (LG, 28) and the diaconate (LG, 29) as degrees of the one sacrament of Holy Orders.

By the adjective “hierarchical”, therefore, the Council intends to indicate the sacred origin of the apostolic ministry in the action of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as well as its internal relationships. The Bishops, first and foremost, and through them the priests and deacons, have received tasks (in Latin munera), which lead them to the service of “all those who belong to the People of God”, so that, “working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, [they] may arrive at salvation” (LG, 18).

Lumen gentium repeatedly and effectively recalls the collegial and communal nature of this apostolic mission, reaffirming that the “duty which the Lord committed to the shepherds of His people is a true service, which in sacred literature is significantly called ‘diakonia’ or ministry” (LG, 24). We can therefore understand why Saint Paul VI presented the hierarchy as a reality “born of the charity of Christ, to fulfil, spread and ensure the intact and fruitful transmission of the wealth of faith, examples, precepts and charisms bequeathed by Christ to His Church” (Address, 14 September 1964, in Acta Synodalia III/1, 147).

Dear sisters and dear brothers, let us pray to the Lord that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptized, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world.

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Special greetings:

I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those coming from England, Ireland, Tanzania, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. I greet in particular the students of the University of Dallas Rome Program. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to imitate Our Blessed Mother in her total “yes” to the Lord, and so open our hearts to his will for our lives. Upon all of you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!

I extend my cordial greeting to the French-speaking people, especially the pilgrims from French schools. Brothers and sisters, let us pray for the Pastors of the Church, that, working collegially and in community, they may fervently proclaim the Good News and help the faithful to actively engage in building the Church and a world of peace. God bless you !

 Dear German-speaking brothers and sisters, let us pray in a particular way for the Bishops, called, as successors of the Apostles, to sanctify, guide and instruct the people of God, thus contributing as faithful pastors to the edification and good of the entire Mystical Body of Christ .]

I cordially greet the Spanish-speaking pilgrims. Let us ask Christ, the Good Shepherd, to raise up in the Church pastors willing to give their lives for the flock entrusted to them; pastors who are ardent in charity, available in their mission, and courageous in proclaiming the Gospel. May God bless you. Thank you very much.

I extend my heartfelt greetings to all Chinese speakers. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, illuminate and accompany you in your lives. I sincerely bless you!

I extend my cordial greeting to the Chinese-speaking people. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, enlighten you and accompany you in your lives. I bless you from my heart .

[ My warm welcome to all Portuguese-speaking pilgrims! Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus entrusted us with the task of praying "to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Lk 10:2). Let us take this mandate seriously and pray every day for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, always protect you! ]

I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful, especially those from the Holy Land. Christians are called to be loving disciples and courageous messengers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. May the Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil !
 I cordially greet the Poles. Today in Poland we celebrate the Day of the Sanctity of Life. We truly need initiatives like the Spiritual Adoption of a Conceived Child, which is being launched today. In a time marked by the folly of war, it is important to defend life from conception to its natural end. I bless you all! 

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I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially the faithful of the Diocese of Carpi, accompanied by Archbishop Erio Castellucci; the parish of Santa Maria dell'Agnena in Vitulazio, accompanied by Archbishop Pietro Lagnese; and the parish of Buon Pastore in Vieste, accompanied by Archbishop Franco Moscone.

I then greet the schools of Mottola, Sora and San Giovanni Gemini.

Finally, my thoughts turn to young people, the sick, and newlyweds. May the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which we celebrate today, be for all an invitation to follow the example of Mary Most Holy and to be ready to always do God's will.

My blessing to everyone!
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Summary of the Holy Father's words:

Dear brothers and sisters,

In our ongoing catechesis on the Second Vatican Council, today we reflect on the teachings of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium concerning the hierarchical structure of the Church. In this regard, it is helpful to bear in mind that the Church is not something we invented, but is a divine institution established by Jesus himself. Christ appointed the apostles, placing Peter at their head, and sent them out to continue his salvific mission until his return in glory. To perpetuate this same mission, ministers were invested with sacred power to be the successors of the Apostles as Bishops, in whose ministry priests and deacons likewise participate through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Sharing in the ministry of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, they are consecrated to serve the faithful, build up the Church and ensure the fruitful transmission of the faith. Let us therefore ask the Lord to continue to bless his Church with shepherds after his own heart.