ROME — Just as Christ spent his ministry healing and comforting the sick and the needy, bishops also must be a sign of charity in their dioceses, said Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Celebrating an early morning Mass Feb. 10 at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, Bishop Jugis said, "The love of Christ impels us to be examples of that charity to our local churches."
"It is a great self-giving in love to which we are called as bishops and the model to which we always look to is Jesus, who loved us to the end by his suffering, death and resurrection," he said.
Bishop Jugis was the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass the bishops of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina celebrated during their visit "ad limina apostolorum" -- to the threshold of the apostles -- to report on the status of their dioceses.
In his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on the day's Gospel reading from St. Mark which recalled the many people who brought their sick loved ones to Jesus in hopes that he would heal them.
Jesus' charity, he said, "transformed every place where he went," and by his very presence, he moved others "to works of charity, to help the needy, to help the sick."
The church, he added, "continues unabated that great mission of charity and will to the end of time."
Bishops must "do all with charity, whether it is to teach -- in virtue of our teaching office -- the truth in love or even to correct or to admonish others, but always in love," Bishop Jugis said. "We do all in charity, even to govern with the heart of a pastor, and to sanctify and make holy those under our care to assist them in charity on their pilgrim way to eternal life."
Citing Pope Francis' talk to new cardinals during the 2015 consistory, Bishop Jugis reminded his fellow bishops that in the church, "all presiding flows from charity, must be exercised in charity and is ordered toward charity."
"This pilgrimage 'ad limina apostolorum' is a sign of our communion and unity with the chair of Peter. May these days renew in each of us a spirit of Christ-like service to our local churches to build up the whole church in unity and love," he said.
— Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service
Pictured: Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., center, concelebrates Mass with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits to report on the status of their dioceses to Pope Francis and Vatican officials. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., arrives with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina to concelebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., concelebrates Mass with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., center, concelebrates Mass with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., and Archbishop Thomas J. Wenski of Miami, Fla., are pictured as U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina prepare to concelebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are pictured after concelebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Luis R. Zarama Pasqualetto of Raleigh, N.C., and Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of Charleston, S.C., concelebrate Mass with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., right, concelebrates Mass with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., gives the homily as U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina concelebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020. (CNS photo/Stefano Dal Pozzolo)
Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of Charleston, S.C., signs a guest book as U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina prepare to concelebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome Feb. 10, 2020.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., arrives in procession with other U.S. bishops to concelebrate Mass in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Archbishop Thomas J. Wenski of Miami, Fla., and other U.S. bishops pray as they concelebrate Mass in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Cindy Wooden)
Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares of Phoenix concelebrate Mass with other U.S. bishops in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Pope Francis greets clerics during a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses
Pope Francis walks to his chair as he leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis greets Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., during a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis greets Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, N.C., during a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Cathedral of St. Patrick's Father Christopher Roux had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis Father Roux presented the Pope with a copy of the "Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation" which was given an imprimatur by Bishop Jugis on Dec. 8th, 2004.
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Francis poses for a group photo during a meeting with U.S. bishops from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina at the Vatican Feb. 13, 2020. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
ROME — Just as Christ spent his ministry healing and comforting the sick and the needy, bishops also must be a sign of charity in their dioceses, said Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte, North Carolina.
