By Alex Terrazas *

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From the Holy See, on July 16, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Msgr. Frank Leo as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Montreal. Following his episcopal ordination, he will join the auxiliary bishop currently assisting the Archbishop of Montreal, Bishop Alain Faubert, in serving the faithful of the Archdiocese.

Hispanos Catolicos contacted Msgr. Leo, who was born in Canada to Italian parents and is fluent in Spanish and asked him to recount by phone his impressions on receiving this important appointment.

“Monsignor, how did you feel after receiving the news of your appointment?
I received the news with great surprise, because I was working as Vicar General of the Curia. And then on July 16, the Apostolic Nuncio called me. I knew nothing about it all, and it was a great surprise for me. I think it is a great opportunity to continue serving the Kingdom of God on earth.

What other functions will you assume with your new call to serve?
I will retain the same functions of vicar general and moderator of the Curia. I will have more liturgical celebrations and more invitations to represent the bishop in pastoral activities. I will have more meetings with the bishops of the province and the country, as a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops.

To which saint do you have a special devotion?
To the Virgin Mary, because she is the most important person in all of Creation. She had the mission of giving birth to the Lord, the Saviour of the world. She is not only an intercessor, she is a model of Christian life. For me, she is an example to follow in my new appointment as bishop.

How do you nourish your faith?
First with personal prayer and the official prayers of the Church, then, with the sacraments; thirdly, with pastoral activity, that is, serving in the ministry, which is also a way of cultivating my faith; fourth, with Bible readings and fifth, sharing with my spiritual director and with the laity, that is, sharing our devotions with others.

What do you think the faithful expect from a bishop in your community?
I think people want a pastor who is very close to his people. That is, to be available, to be kind and to be like a spiritual brother and father in all the many moments of life. What I hear is that people are happy when they see the priest present in the midst of their community.

What impact do you think Pope Francis's visit to Canada has had?
It has been very positive: the closeness of the Good Shepherd in contributing to the work of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. A spiritual renewal, arriving with the peace and goodness of the Lord, with a message of faith and hopefulness. His presence and his closeness have been very important for us. In any case, it is difficult to measure the impact on our churches only a couple of months after his visit.

What do you think is the contribution of the Hispanic community to Canada?
The contribution of the Hispanic community to our Canadian culture is very great. The faith experience of Hispanics is a great blessing and a gift. The extremely important values they hold, such as family, devotion (- and devotions plural), along with the great heart and the piety that these people have are wonderful.