Liturgy Resource
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2014 Closing Homily by Bishop Pates
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2014 Closing Homily, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Diocese of Des Moines, February 5, 2014
Bishop Pates closes the 2014 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering by honoring John Carr’s foundational vision and recognizing ongoing leadership in Catholic social justice. He reflects on Pope Francis’s transformative impact, highlighting his humility, relational approach, and bold advocacy for peace, especially during the Syrian crisis. Inspired by Francis’s call for “a Church that is poor and for the poor,” Bishop Pates challenges American Catholics to embrace both material and spiritual poverty—living with humility, dependence on God, and solidarity with the marginalized.
Drawing from Scripture and examples like King David and corporate leader Larry Zimpleman, Bishop Pates emphasizes servant leadership rooted in justice and kinship. He recounts a moving visit to Gaza, where dire conditions and a young boy’s farewell underscored the urgency of advocating for human dignity and peace. The reflection calls for renewed commitment to Gospel-centered leadership that unites, heals, and uplifts both Church and society.
Bishop Pates encourages a journey of authenticity and humility rooted in the Gospel, acknowledging that true witness often meets opposition, as seen in Jesus’ ministry and the lives of figures like Mother Teresa, Archbishop Romero, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Saint Agatha’s martyrdom exemplifies the scandal provoked by humble Christian witness. In a world marked by violence and division—from global conflicts to personal struggles—believers are called to respond with perseverance, love, and spiritual poverty. Inspired by Pope Francis, this path involves embracing Christ’s woundedness as a source of healing, reconciliation, and kinship, and bearing witness to life and justice through grace-filled action.