By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted May 9, 2025

(See the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter)

The images from the Vatican these past few weeks have been wonderful. The Vatican website had a streaming video of the beginning of the conclave which I watched on the internet. It was a full video until the “extra omnes” part where the door was shut and locked.

Part of the ceremony was for each cardinal to place his hand on the Gospels and swear an oath. As each cardinal came up, he pronounced his name and read the oath. I was struck by the universality, or catholicity, of the Church. Every continent, with a wide variety of ethnicities and nationalities, was represented by the cardinals.

Then when I was watching video of St. Peter’s Square with the people gathered waiting for the smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney, I noticed that people were likewise there from all over the world. All members of the one flock, under the leadership of the one shepherd. The second reading from the Book of Revelation came to mind: “I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue.”

When we see the Church gathered like this, or even on a Sunday in our own parishes, we remember that we are part of a flock. Jesus is our shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:11-12). In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells us: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

There is an intimacy in the relationships between the shepherd and the sheep; between Jesus and his flock. He knows us, not just as a flock but as members of that flock. He knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. He loves us for who we are and where we are in life. And he leads us forward, in the words of Psalm 23, “along the right path.” He speaks to us on this journey of life. We “hear his voice.”

We hear his voice in different ways. One is through prayer with the Scriptures. The word of the Lord, the Word of God, is heard when we listen to the readings of the Old and New Testaments. He mysteriously speaks to us, and we hear his voice in these words.

The Acts of the Apostles reminds us that we hear him speak through the Apostles; in this case, Paul and Barnabas. Four times in this short passage we hear mention of the “word of the Lord [or of God]” being proclaimed by the apostles. They bring the good news (the Gospel) and proclaim it for all to hear. God uses them in a very dedicated way to make this proclamation, so that people may come to faith through it and become members of the one flock.

The passage this Sunday also recalls the mission to the Gentiles. Jesus’ mission of salvation (“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”) is for all peoples and nations. All people, “Jews and Greeks alike” are invited to be members of the one flock, following one shepherd.

The incredible spread of the Gentile mission is seen today in those images I mentioned above at the Vatican. We can also see it in the large number of ethnicities in our parishes. All of us, no matter what our backgrounds or ancestry may be, are members of the one flock. Gathered together we hear his voice and we follow him.

I wrote most of this reflection prior to a new pope being elected and announced. Now we have Pope Leo XIV. The Bishop of Rome has a special role in the universal Church. In the name of Christ Jesus, he shares in a unique way the role of Jesus as shepherd of the universal Church.

One of the titles of the pope is “pontifex maximus” which comes from Roman times. The title points to one who “builds bridges.” As the shepherd in the footsteps of Peter, and following the Good Shepherd, Pope Leo will seek to bridge the gaps in our heavily divided world. His first message, reflecting the greeting of the Risen Lord, is “peace.”

Jesus gathers us together as one flock. The flock he gathers is from all over the world. His gift of salvation is for all peoples. All are invited to receive the gift of faith. As members of the one flock, we are brothers and sisters.

As Pope Leo begins his ministry of shepherd of the universal Church, let us pray for him and follow his lead: “Let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. For he is our God, we are the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands” (Psalm 95:6-7).

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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.