“The participation of the laity is not a concession, it expresses their baptismal dignity,” the Pope affirms in Chiclayo

– By Junno Arocho Esteves

Upon returning to his former diocese in northern Peru, Pope Leo XIV has carried out a call He urged the priests of Chiclayo to transform their work on the Church into concrete actions, abandoning clericalism. He also emphasized the importance of the laity in the life of the Church. 

“It is easy to talk about synodality, but putting it into practice is a challenge and requires everyone to examine their attitudes and conduct, starting with the pastors, who are the main servants of the community,” Pope Leo told bishops, priests, seminarians and lay leaders gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace.

The Pope, who led the diocese From 2015 to 2023, he also emphasized the importance of the participation of the laity in the life of the Church. 

The laity, baptismal dignity

“Authority within the Church must be exercised in the forms of service, discernment and evaluation of charisms and initiatives, since the participation of the laity is not a concession, but an expression of their baptismal dignity,” stated the Vicar of Christ.

In welcoming the Pope to the sanctuary, the Bishop of Chiclayo, Monsignor Edinson Farfán Córdova, stated that those present represented a “diversity of faces and vocations that manifest the beauty of a living Church in communion, participation and mission.”. 

A Church that Listens

It is “a Church that listens, that discerns, and that walks with hope. A Synodal Church who wants communion to be not just a word, but a concrete way of living and proclaiming the Gospel.”.

Invoking the patron saint who gives the sanctuary its name, Monsignor Farfán prayed that “Our Lady of Peace will teach us to walk together, to always listen to each other with humility and to put our gifts at the service of all, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.”.

Before his speech, The Pope listened to the testimonies of a priest, a nun, and a layperson. The diocesan priest recalled Pope Leo XIII's episcopal motto, “In Illo Uno Unum” (“In the One, we are one”), and thanked him for teaching the clergy “to avoid all clericalist attitudes, to know how to listen to the laity—our brothers and sisters—and to give them the space that is rightfully theirs.”.

A nun speaks about charisms

Sister Rocío Carrasco Quintana, a missionary with the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence in the nearby town of Trujillo, told the Pope that the synodal experience among religious congregations was necessary in a society “so battered by violence and mistrust.”. 

“The most genuine and transformative expression of our charisms is revealed in the faith and commitment of so many lay men and women who give life to our missions and diverse pastoral initiatives. Discerning and making decisions with them is the commitment and challenge we assume as consecrated life and as a synodal Church,” he affirmed. 

“Communion in the Church is not uniformity”

A laywoman from the Archdiocese of Piura then explained to Pope Leo how synodality went from abstract theory to door-to-door ministry, when pastoral workers carried a pilgrim statue of the Virgin Mary through homes for three-day vigils.

“We learned that synodality is not about making plans from behind a desk, but about everyone sitting at the same table,” he said, adding that the Church must be one “with open doors and feet on the ground.”.

Based on their testimonies, Leo XIV affirmed that authentic communion in the Church “is not uniformity,” but rather “values the diversity of cultures, vocations, charisms and ministries as a richness, and promotes them.”.

With the poor and those who suffer

Citing the document of the Second Vatican Council, “Gaudium et Spes” , The Pope reminded those present that “a synodal Church also shares the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of humanity, especially the poor and those who suffer.”.

“Listening to social and cultural realities; defending human dignity; accompanying families, young people, migrants, indigenous peoples and those living in poverty; and working for justice, peace and the common good are not optional tasks, but requirements of our ecclesial mission,” he stated. 

Pastoral Councils

“In order for dioceses and parishes to adopt this synodal style of communion, participation, and mission, it is worthwhile to revitalize the role of pastoral councils, in which some of you here present are involved,” the Holy Father added. “Although your vote is consultative, your ecclesial importance is great: you help to listen to the community, to understand the reality, to discern priorities, and to formulate more appropriate responses. Therefore, I urge you to ensure that every community has its own pastoral council, whose members are also committed to receiving adequate formation.”.

In closing, the Pope thanked those present for their dedication to the cause of the Gospel. “May Our Lady of Peace bless your efforts to establish the Kingdom of God in this northern land and bear much fruit for the glory of God and the good of souls.”.

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– Junno Arocho Esteves (@jae_journalist en X) is an international correspondent for OSV News.

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