Vatican City, May 15, 2018 / 11:22 am
At the end of his morning homily Tuesday, Pope Francis asked Catholics to pray for priests, bishops, and the pope, who he said, must learn to leave their posts when it becomes necessary.
Preaching May 15 at the Vatican's Santa Marta Residence, the pope noted that St. Paul, who was "compelled by the Holy Spirit" to leave Ephesus and journey to Jerusalem, "shows us the pathway for every bishop when it's time to take his leave and step down."
"When I read this, I think about myself," Pope Francis said, "because I am a bishop and I must take my leave and step down."
"I am thinking of all bishops," the pope continued. "May the Lord grant all of us the grace to be able to take our leave and step down in this way [like Paul], with that spirit, with that strength, with that love for Jesus Christ and this faith in the Holy Spirit."