During their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit on May 15, the Catholic bishops of Pakistan met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to discuss the challenges, pastoral priorities, and future mission of the Church in Pakistan.
During the audience, the bishops presented the Holy Father with a traditional Pakistani carpet as a symbol of the country’s cultural heritage and the Church’s respect for the pope. Pope Leo XIV warmly received the gift and expressed his gratitude to the delegation.
Bishop Samson Shukardin, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, formally invited the pope to visit the country.
In response, Pope Leo XIV expressed openness to the invitation and assured the bishops of his desire to visit Pakistan in the future.
Reflecting on the significance of the Ad Limina visit, Bishop Samson Shukardin said the pilgrimage to the Vatican and the meeting with the Holy Father strengthened the bishops’ communion with the universal Church and offered spiritual encouragement to the Church in Pakistan.
Bishop Samson Shukardin also noted that the bishops received positive and supportive responses during their meetings with various Vatican dicasteries, where they presented reports on the life and mission of the Catholic Church in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation.
Speaking about the realities faced by Catholics in Pakistan, Bishop Samson Shukardin said proclaiming the Gospel remains one of the principal challenges for the local Church.
He acknowledged that many Catholic families continue to face educational and economic difficulties but emphasized that the faithful remain deeply committed to their faith and Church life.
Despite these challenges, Bishop Samson Shukardin expressed hope for the future of the Church in Pakistan. He highlighted the importance of strengthening Catholic educational institutions and investing in the formation of young people to support the continued growth and development of the local Church.
The Ad Limina Apostolorum visit is a traditional pilgrimage during which bishops from around the world travel to Rome to pray at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul and meet the pope to discuss the pastoral situation in their dioceses.
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