On the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV as Successor of St. Peter, Bishop Paolo Martinelli expresses his gratitude and highlights five key aspects of the Pope’s magisterium that are already shaping the life of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

The theme of peace has marked Pope Leo XIV’s ministry from the very beginning. In his first greeting after the election, he addressed the faithful with the words of the Risen Christ: “Peace be with you all,” speaking of an “unarmed and disarming” peace. 

“We deeply feel the importance of these words,” Bishop Paolo said, “especially after months in which our region has experienced the violence of war. Since the beginning of this conflict, we have felt the closeness of the Pope through his constant commitment to peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and diplomacy.”

Pope Leo XIV also presented himself as a son of migrants—an aspect that resonates strongly in the Vicariate.

“We are a Church of migrants, we are all migrants. This made him immediately close to our hearts. He knows what it means to be on the move.”

As a spiritual son of St. Augustine, the Pope frequently highlights the human dimension of faith—the desire and longing for God present in every heart: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

“This is a very important value,” the bishop noted. “I remember well the meeting with young people last summer, when the Pope challenged them to remain faithful to their hearts, to their deepest desires, that only God can truly fulfill.”

Bishop Paolo also emphasized the theme of unity in the Church and unity in mission, expressed in the Pope’s motto “In illo uno unum”—“In the one Christ we are one.”

“For us, these words have a particular resonance. We all come from different cultures, nations, languages, and even rites, yet we share the same faith and the same Baptism. This is what makes us one body in Christ. Only if we are united can we bear witness to Jesus. As the Pope reminded us in his message for the next World Missionary Day: one in Christ, united in mission.”

Finally, the Bishop highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s teaching on the value of charisms in the life of the Church.

“In our Vicariate, we are blessed with many charisms through the presence of various movements and associations. Pope Leo has helped clarify their role in a meaningful speech in June 2025: the grace of God reaches us through the Sacraments and the Word, through the Church, but our hearts must be open to receive it. Charisms are gifts of the Holy Spirit that help us to open our hearts to recognize Jesus, to welcome him and to be transformed by the encounter with him.”

He also referred to the Pope’s emphasis on the document Iuvenescit Ecclesia, which highlights the importance of charisms for evangelization and the mission of the Church.

“We are truly grateful for his magisterium,” Bishop Paolo added, “because it offers valuable guidance for our local Church.”

Bishop Paolo concludes by reaffirming the commitment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia to continue walking in communion with the Pope, following his call to be peacemakers in our world—a united Church, a Church on mission, a Church of dialogue—while assuring the prayers of all the faithful of the Vicariate for his Petrine ministry.