rome Archives - Diocese of Venice

The Gift of Formation and Fraternity – Bishop Emilio shares reflections on journey to Italy.

Posted on September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by Bob Reddy

By Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap.

Peace and Goodness.

The days from September 2–13, 2026, were a blessed time of grace, formation, fraternity, and renewed hope. I return to the Diocese of Venice with a grateful heart.

Upon arriving in Rome, the Capuchin brothers, Father Diogo Escudero and Brother Aklilu Petros, met me at the airport and generously accompanied me throughout my stay. On the first day, Father Diogo and I visited the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul to pray for the faithful of the Diocese of Venice. The pastoral visits were still fresh in my heart, and I was grateful to entrust our priests, deacons, religious, and lay faithful to the intercession of these great Apostles.

The first 10 days were dedicated to the new bishops formation course (Annual Formation Course for New Bishops from Around the World, with its theme: “In Christ, Guardians of the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ in Times of Transformation”), which brought together approximately 150 bishops from around the world who had been ordained during the past year. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet bishops from different cultures and pastoral situations and to recognize the unity of our vocation and mission in the Church.

The course provided an extraordinary opportunity to listen, learn, reflect, and share. Seventeen formal presentations were given by bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, addressing various dimensions of the vocation and ministry of a bishop. Each presentation was followed by questions and discussion, allowing the new bishops to share their pastoral experiences, hopes, and concerns.

The seventeenth, and final, presentation was given by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 10, 2026. He reminded the new bishops that our ministry begins with discipleship and that we must remain close to Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist. He called us to embody the compassionate heart of Christ, to love and support our priests, to remain close to our people, and to serve with pastoral charity.

This encounter was especially memorable because the Holy Father opened the floor for the new bishops to ask questions and share their thoughts. For more than an hour, we experienced a genuine closeness and fraternity with the Successor of Peter. It was deeply encouraging and reminded us that the episcopal ministry carries great responsibility and none of the bishops are alone.

The daily celebration of Mass was at the heart of the entire course. Each day, a bishop, archbishop, or cardinal offered the homily, grounding our reflections in the Eucharist. This was an important reminder that episcopal ministry ultimately flows from communion with Christ. Everything we do as bishops must begin and end at the altar. Before we can shepherd others, we must first allow ourselves to be shepherded by Christ.

Formation and Fraternity in Assisi

From Rome, the journey continued to Assisi for the gathering of Capuchin bishops from September 10–13. These days were a natural continuation of the formation received in Rome, with a particular emphasis on our identity and vocation as Capuchins.

To gather in Assisi was itself a profound grace. We were in the places made holy by the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. Our time together included prayer, meditation, Eucharistic celebrations, and formation sessions focused on the responsibilities of episcopal ministry and the importance of remaining faithful to the charism we received as Capuchin friars.

On the final day of the gathering in Assisi, the Capuchin Cardinal Sean O’Malley celebrated Sunday Mass and preached on Matthew 18:21–35, teaching that a defining mark of a Christian is the willingness and then the ability to forgive one’s brother from the heart. He shared examples of the genuine fruit of forgiveness and reconciliation. This was a profound teaching that can only truly be lived out through the action of the Holy Spirit. We pray for this grace and for each other.

Perhaps the greatest gift of Assisi was the fraternity we experienced. We shared meals, prayer, and many conversations. These ordinary moments became important occasions of grace.

Thank you all for your kindness and support.

To read what Pope Leo XIV said during the new bishops meeting on Sept. 10, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/newbishops/.

Bishop meets Pope Leo XIV

Posted on September 16, 2026September 16, 2026 by Bob Reddy

Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., met the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, at the conclusion of his participation in the Annual Formation Course for New Bishops from Around the World in Rome.

The meeting with Pope Leo took place Sept. 10, 2026, in the Synod Hall of the Vatican, following a Mass by all the new bishops in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The bishops gathered for Mass and spent time in veneration of the relics of St. Peter the Apostle.

The audience with Pope Leo lasted approximately two hours with the pontiff offering greetings and having a free exchange of questions and comments for about an hour.

Bishop Emilio expressed his joy and humility at meeting the holy father, “Pope Leo asked about the priests, deacons, religious and faithful in the Diocese. He was very interested in knowing about the people in the Diocese. He promised prayer and support.”

The formation course was Sept. 2-10 and was organized by the Dicastery for Bishops (Dicasterium pro Episcopis) with its theme: “In Christ, Guardians of the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ in Times of Transformation.” The gathering brought together newly appointed bishops from across the world for a time of formation, fraternity, prayer, and reflection on the mission of the episcopate in today’s rapidly changing world.

During the 10 days of the new bishop formation course in Rome, they listened to 16 formal presentations on various topics related to the vocation and mission of the bishop. There was also a formal homily during the daily Mass given by bishops, archbishops and cardinals.

Bishop Emilio found poignancy in four specific talks. The first was, Placuit In His Quos Elegisti Glorificare (The Mystery and Ministry of the Bishop in the Liturgy), was presented by Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Bishop Emilio said this presentation explored the bishop’s identity and ministry through the “episcopal ordination prayer, especially the phrase ‘God has willed to be glorified in those whom he has chosen.’ Episcopal ministry begins with divine initiative and election, and its purpose is to make Christ visible through humble, holy, self-giving service, rather than personal achievement, prestige, or power.”

The second talk, “Building Together: The Ministry of the Bishop in the Construction Sites of Our Time,” was presented by Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Cardinal Czerny presented the episcopal ministry as “building together.” Bishop Emilio said the cardinal explained how “bishops inherit an ongoing diocesan construction site and must lead through listening, synodality, shared responsibility, and discernment. Drawing on St. Augustine and ‘Magnifica Humanitas,’ it calls the Church to engage society, digital transformation, and public life, guided by faith, charity, and hope.”

The third talk, “La trasmissione della fede e la dignità Umana” (The transmission of faith and human dignity), was by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández. It was about examining the growing rupture in the intergenerational transmission of Christian faith worldwide. It calls for renewed missionary proclamation centered on the kerygma (‘proclamation,’ which represents the foundational, initial announcement of the Gospel rather than in-depth teaching or rules), supported by welcoming communities, meaningful liturgy, personal witness, beauty, cultural engagement, and pastoral accompaniment. Evangelization must ultimately unite faith with a profound commitment to human dignity and social transformation.

The other major talk Bishop Emilio referenced was, “Diocesan Structures of Communion and Collaboration and the Tribunals with Particular Reference to Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus and Vos Estis Lux Mundi,” by Bishop Anthony Randazzo, Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts. The presentation explains that diocesan structures, tribunals, and safeguarding offices should express communion, collaboration, justice, and charity. Focusing on “Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus” and “Vos Estis Lux Mundi,” it calls bishops to exercise personal responsibility, ensure accessible and fair procedures, protect confidentiality, and prioritize the salvation of souls.

Other highlights of the bishop’s visit to Rome included Mass with the other bishops Sept. 8, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated at the very first Church in the West erected in her honor, St. Mary Major. The bishops also paid their respects to Pope Francis, who is buried there. Bishop Emilio joined other bishops for a tour of the Pontifical North American College where many diocesan priests have studied.

Bishop Emilio had the opportunity to visit with Father Franckel Fils-Aime, a diocesan priest who is currently studying in Rome. Bishop Emilio shared that he had connected with Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, of the Diocese of Palm Beach, who was appointed in December 2025; Bishop Osmany Masso Cuesto, Bishop of Bayamo-Manzanillo, Cuba, who was appointed in January 2026 (Bishop Emilio was previously a missionary in that diocese); and Bishop Jacek Piotr Tendej, C.M., of the Diocese of Alotau-Sideia, in Papua New Guinea, who was appointed in July 2025 (Bishop Emilio was also a missionary in Papua New Guinea).

Earlier in his trip to Rome, Bishop Emilio took time to pray before the tombs of the apostles Ss. Peter and Paul, as well as those of several popes, carrying with him the prayers of the faithful of the Diocese of Venice. He also visited the tombs of St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. Pius X, and Pope Benedict XVI.

Bishop Emilio went directly from the bishop formation course to Assisi, where he joined about 150 other Capuchin bishops for a weekend retreat for a time in fraternity. The gathering coincides with the occasion of the 500^th anniversary of the reforms among Franciscans that led to the formation of the Capuchin religious order (1525-1528). The Capuchin bishops will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Tomb of St. Francis on Sept. 12.

Please continue to pray for Bishop Emilio as he continues his journey through Italy.

Bishop Emilio prays for people of Diocese before tombs of apostles and popes

Posted on September 4, 2026September 4, 2026 by Bob Reddy

Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., is currently in Rome participating in the Annual Formation Course for New Bishops from Around the World (Aug. 2-10, 2026), organized by the Dicastery for Bishops (Dicasterium pro Episcopis).

This year’s formation course has as its theme: “In Christ, Guardians of the ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ in Times of Transformation.”

The gathering brings together newly appointed bishops from across the world for a time of formation, fraternity, prayer, and reflection on the mission of the episcopate in today’s rapidly changing world.

During his time in Rome, Bishop Emilio will also have the opportunity to meet with Pope Leo XIV, a special moment of communion with the Holy Father.

While in Rome, Bishop Emilio is staying at the Capuchins’ house there. As he had mentioned during his tour of parishes in the diocese in July and August, Bishop Emilio took time to pray before the tombs of the apostles Ss. Peter and Paul, as well as those of several popes, and bringing to the prayers of the faithful of the Diocese of Venice.

The first stop on Sept. 2, was the tomb of St. Peter inside the Vatican. There, Bishop Emilio said he was, “Praying for the intentions of Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane, the priests, deacons, religious and the faithful, especially the prayers of the parishes and schools of the Diocese of Venice and those who work at the Catholic Center in Venice.”

While there, the bishop noticed that the famous statue of St. Peter has been visited by many faithful pilgrims through the years as the feet have been rubbed down considerably. This is the bishop’s first visit to Rome since 2005.

He then visited the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle. Other stops included the tombs of St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII, St. Paul VI, St. Pius X, and Pope Benedict XVI.

Accompanying Bishop Emilio for his visit to the Vatican was Father Diego Escudero, O.F.M. Cap., from Capuchin Province of St. Augustine, Pittsburgh, who is currently working in the Capuchin General Curia in Rome

Also on Sept. 2, Bishop Emilio was present at the weekly catechesis presented by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square.

Please join the faithful of the Diocese of Venice in praying for Bishop Emilio and all the new bishops gathered in Rome, that the Lord may strengthen them in their ministry and guide them as shepherds of His people.