The audience of the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles with Pope Leo XIV left a profound pastoral and spiritual impression on those who participated in the meeting in Rome. Beyond the protocols typical of an ad limina visit, the Caribbean pastors described the experience as a true space for listening, dialogue, and fraternal accompaniment.
The testimony shared by Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon (president of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles) reveals the approachable and deeply human face of the Holy Father, marked by Latin American spirituality and the pastoral vision inspired by Aparecida.
A Shepherd Shaped by Latin America
During the meeting, the bishops clearly perceived that Pope Leo XIV cannot be understood solely through his American origins, but rather through his long pastoral experience in Latin America, especially in Peru, where he exercised his episcopal ministry.
According to Archbishop Gordon, the Holy Father is deeply shaped by the spirit of the Aparecida Document and by a Church “going forth,” close to the peripheries and committed to missionary discipleship.
That sensitivity was evident in the way he conducted the audience: not as a closed formal session, but as a space open to sincere dialogue and mutual listening.
“He did not close the session. He opened it,” Archbishop Gordon recounts, highlighting the Pope’s willingness to listen to the concrete realities of the Caribbean: poverty, migration, geopolitical tensions, the impact of hurricanes, and the pastoral challenges of island communities.
A Church that listens and accompanies
One of the most significant moments of the meeting occurred when a bishop shared the pain experienced by his diocese following the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa. Far from responding hastily or seeking diplomatic phrases, Pope Leo XIV remained silent, listening attentively and allowing the weight of that reality to be fully expressed.
For the bishops, that gesture reflected the authentic spirit of pastoral accompaniment promoted by Aparecida: walking with the people in the midst of their sufferings, rather than offering quick answers.
In harmony with the Church’s synodal journey, the bishops also spoke with the Pope about the participation of the Caribbean Churches in synodal processes. The Holy Father reiterated that synodality “is neither democracy nor uniformity,” but rather the ability to discern together the voice of the Spirit through mutual listening and respect for differences.
Family, Education, and the Interior Life
During the meeting, the Holy Father emphasized three aspects he considers fundamental to the bishops’ pastoral mission:
- Caring for the pastor’s interior life;
- closeness to families;
- and the defense of Catholic education.
Using the image of fertile soil, the Pope recalled that the episcopal ministry needs deep roots to bear fruit. He also encouraged them not to abandon families in the face of the many social and economic crises they face.
Regarding Catholic schools, he was emphatic: “Schools are not buildings. They are the future.”
The Mission and the Intercultural Challenge
Another topic addressed was the growing presence of missionaries from Africa and Asia in the Caribbean. The bishops shared both the richness of these exchanges and the difficulties of cultural and pastoral adaptation.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the topic with sensitivity, recalling that many missionaries leave behind their homeland, their culture, and their comforts to serve the Gospel. He also announced initiatives to strengthen intercultural formation and pastoral accompaniment for those sent to new contexts.
The Unexpected Sign of Pickleball
Amid deep conversations about mission, poverty, and reconstruction following natural disasters, an everyday topic unexpectedly arose: sports, tennis, and pickleball.
Archbishop Gordon recalled how the Pope’s face lit up spontaneously during that simple, human moment. For him, this was not a mere anecdote, but a sign of the kind of pastor Leo XIV is: a free, authentic, and fully present man.
“Holiness does not make a person smaller. It makes them more present, more alive, more capable of meeting you where you are,” the archbishop said.
A message that resonates in the Amazon
This encounter resonates deeply with the journey of the Church in the Amazon: a Church that listens, accompanies, and discerns alongside the peoples; a Church close to the human and environmental peripheries; a synodal and missionary Church.
Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on peace, listening, pastoral closeness, and care for the most vulnerable communities fully aligns with the commitment of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon—CEAMA—to integral ecology, the defense of life, and the dignity of the peoples.