Meeting pope, nearly 200 other new bishops deepened Bishop-elect O’Donnell’s wordview

It was wonderful to greet the Holy Father and have the opportunity to thank him for accepting the call to lead our Church and to assure him of our prayers for his important work.”

Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell

Bishop-elect Ralph B. O’Donnell recently spent a week in Rome learning some of the basics of serving as a bishop.

He also got to meet Pope Leo XIV.

“It was wonderful to greet the Holy Father and have the opportunity to thank him for accepting the call to lead our Church and to assure him of our prayers for his important work,” said Bishop-elect O’Donnell.

Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States, was elected this past May, following the death of Pope Francis.

“I was taken by the Holy Father’s kindness and sincerity,” the bishop-elect stated.

Bishop-elect O’Donnell was one of 193 bishops who traveled to the Vatican for the annual formation courses for new bishops.

He found energy and inspiration in spending time with so many fellow bishops from around the world who are beginning their ministry this year.

“It was fascinating to learn about their individual stories as well as the communities that they serve,” he said.

Some of the new bishops minister in parts of the world where there is extreme poverty, violence, political upheaval and war. It was sobering to think of the many challenges these communities experience.

“Especially in our small-groups sessions, I found myself humbled to share in the work of the successors of the Apostles and the call to lead others to Christ,” the bishop-elect stated.

Pope Leo, in an address to the new bishops, encouraged them to rely on God’s grace and to stay close to the Lord in prayer and service.

“His personal example makes that all the more inspiring to me,” said Bishop-elect O’Donnell.