Soon after attending the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of State of Vatican City, said this about Pope Leo:
I’ve always felt this serenity in Cardinal Prevost. I met him at the beginning of my service as Secretary of State for a thorny issue concerning the Church in Peru, where he was bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo. I then had the opportunity to work directly with him over the past two years, after Pope Francis called him to Rome and entrusted him with the Dicastery for Bishops.
And just what was this “thorny issue”?
Pope Leo XIV was once assigned to be the apostolic administrator “sede vacante” of the diocese of Callao in Peru after the abrupt resignation of the bishop of Callao, José Luis del Palacio. This story, which is eerily similar to the story that played out in the Archdiocese of Agana (Guam) several years before, shows that our new Pope certainly knows the Neocatechumenal Way well.
Bishop Del Palacio was a member of the Neocatechumenal Way from Spain prior to being appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 to oversee the diocese of Callao. It seems that his initiatives in that diocese caused a great deal of division there.
Here is his goodbye message to the diocese:
We have obtained some details from an article in Religion Digital (translated into English):
The Pope fires the Spanish bishop ‘kiko’ of Callao, after pressure from the faithful of the diocese
15.04.2020 Jesús Bastante
They told him “on the day of the Easter Vigil”, as he himself acknowledged in a message to the faithful of El Callao. At 70 years of age, Pope Francis has ‘fired’ the Spaniard José Luis del Palacio, the bishop of the ‘kikos’ in the Peruvian diocese, and who had become one of the main opponents of Francis’ reforms in the country’s Church.
After eight years, and after what some sources point out as “a summary process” of which no details have been given, Del Palacio cedes his post as the bishop of Chiclayo to the Augustinian Robert Francis Prevost, who will serve as diocesan administrator.
Although no details have been given about his dismissal – other sources speculate that it is a matter of health problems – the truth is that for months many priests of a progressive tint had denounced abuse and death threats by members of the Way. At that time, the Diocese issued a statement in which it showed its “solidarity” and reiterated its “closeness to the possible victims of such threats.”
“I forgive and I ask for forgiveness”
“Of course I forgive those brothers who have offended me and have defamed me, and I have no resentment in my heart, may God bless them,” concludes Del Palacio’s message, who asks forgiveness “from everyone for my character, for my sins, we are all sinners, I ask for your forgiveness,” although he does not specify what they are.
The truth, according to sources close to him, is that the relationship with the parishioners had been deteriorating, and many criticized Del Palacio for traveling a lot to Europe to seek subsidies and aid, which almost all served to promote the implementation of the Neocatechumenal Way in Peru.
We cannot conclude from this that Pope Leo is an “enemy” of the Neocatechumenal Way, but it is certain that he is aware of the damage that they cause.
For more information about the Neocatechumenal Way, see A Critical Look at the Neocatechumenal Way.
Sources
Bastante, Jesus. “El Papa fulmina al obispo ‘kiko’ español del Callao, tras la presión de los fieles de la diócesis.” Religion Digital, 14 April 2020, https://www.religiondigital.org/america/Papa-fulmina-espanol-Callao-diocesis-kikos_0_2222777720.html. Accessed 9 May 2025.
“Parolin on Robert Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV.” Aleteia, 20 May 2025, https://aleteia.org/2025/05/20/parolin-on-robert-prevosts-election-as-pope-leo-xiv. Accessed 24 May 2025.
“Un ‘kiko’ español, obispo de El Callao (Perú).” Periodista Digital, 12 December 2011, https://www.periodistadigital.com/cultura/religion/america/20111212/kiko-espanol-obispo-callao-peru-noticia-689401733856/. Accessed 9 May 2025.
The new Pope just may be the answer to our prayers regarding the Neocatechumenal Way. Hopefully more.
Big spike in search engine referrals for the NCW today. Here’s why: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/06/05/250605a.html
The Pope met with Kiko today.
A day after Pope Leo met with Kiko, he addressed the leaders of lay associations and movements, including the Neocatechumenal Way, saying:
“Unity and mission are two essential aspects of the Church’s life and two priorities of the Petrine ministry. For this reason, I ask all ecclesial associations and movements to cooperate faithfully and generously with the Pope, above all in these two areas…Seek to spread everywhere this unity that you yourselves experience in your groups and communities, always in communion with the Church’s Pastors and in solidarity with other ecclesial realities.”
This type of unity has been the consistent message of recent popes to the Neocatechumenal Way. Will they finally listen?
I don’t think so. Because they ate good liers.
Kiko,in a convivenze, openly hoped for Pope Benedict XVI to die, because He warned him to change certain aspects of the way and to join the parish mass.
Kiko should have been excommunicated. Nothing happened.
Also Pope Leo is not free to do as He likes. Let’s not forget that.
Hello,
I’ve been researching for about two years now since the NeoCats made their way into my home parish. I can say that it has been a difficult time for me since then. I know that Jesus is present at mass and I shouldn’t be so absorbed with what I don’t like about them, but I had to unregister from my parish for over 40 years because it doesn’t feel like home anymore.
I’m very concerned as to why our Archbishop has allowed them to take over our parish. Knowing that they have many questionable “rites” or “practices” is reason enough to be weary.
https://thoughtfulcatholic.com/address-of-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv-to-the-leaders-of-the-neocatechumenal-way/
Pope Leo XIV met with the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way on Monday, January 19, 2026, and he spent a significant part of his address speaking of issues of unity and urging them to avoid exclusion, closure, intimidation and actions that arouse guilt and fear.