Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Bishop Michael Fisher was recently in Rome, where he and several members of the leadership team at the Buffalo Catholic Diocese met with Pope Leo XIV and several "Dicasteries" of the Holy See.
Among the discussion points between Bishop Fisher and the Pope included progress of the Diocese's "Road to Renewal" program, as well as the progress in emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and more.
Bishop Fisher says it was a privilege meeting with the Holy Father, and says Pope Leo assured the people of Buffalo of his prayers.
"We had a nice discussion, he was a good listener," said Bishop Fisher in an interview with WBEN on Wednesday. "I told him about all of what we're experiencing here in the Diocese, and what a joy it is to be Bishop here. He was very grateful for that, and encouraged me to continue in what we're trying to do, and bring healing, obviously, to the Diocese."
On top of his opportunity to talk about the Diocese, Bishop Fisher was able to present the Pope with a Buffalo Bills jersey with the No. 14 for Leo XIV. He also presented the Pope with a book on the life of Msgr. Nelson Baker, as well as a picture of Fr. Baker.
During his trip to The Vatican, Bishop Fisher was encouraged to work closely with the various Dicasteries on the Road to Renewal program and continue with the process.
"We were assured we are following the process," Bishop Fisher said. "Now, there's always going to be questions. We weren't getting into specific parishes and things like that, it was more of just looking at how we're moving forward with the process of things. I wanted to make sure also that I wasn't just focusing on those Dicasteries that were administrative, like clergy and bishops. Bishops obviously are concerned about how we're administering the Diocese, but also encouraging us to work with clergy in the mergers and the closures. These aren't easy issues, but they want to work with us. So that was really getting to know one another better, for me to know who's over there and working there."
Bishop Fisher also went to some of the other Dicasteries, like Evangelization, that encouraged him and his fellow leaders to look at nurturing and fostering more small communities of faith, which is what the Diocese's pillars are already doing.
"I think we're finding success in those family of parishes that are implementing the pillars. We're challenged in the ones that aren't, so you're always going to have questions and opposition, and we have to try to work with that. And that, again, was the encouragement, work with your people," Bishop Fisher said.
Leadership with the Buffalo Diocese also went to the Dicastery for the Pontifical protection of children and vulnerable people.
"I wanted to go there just to make sure we're doing all that we can for the safe protection of our people and our schools and our parishes," Bishop Fisher noted. "They encouraged us, certainly, to continue in our audits and working through that, because that's what tells us that we're following our policies. But also to look at our surveys, like CARA, that we cooperate with them, because what that does is it gives the church the ability to look at, 'What as a church overall can we be doing better? But also as a diocese?'"
Another key piece of discussions with Pope Leo XIV surrounded the Diocese's Chapter 11 reorganization plan and bankruptcy settlements. Part of Bishop Fisher's message when he went to Rome was the urgency the Diocese had to find a way out of this situation.
"It's depleting our resources, it's playing havoc on the morale and the faith of our people," Bishop Fisher acknowledged. "I think once we get through it, then we can look forward with a sense of hope. That's the main thrust of it, that we can't continue. We're five years into it already. I wish we could have settled it, but it's complex. We're dealing with a lot of issues, and unfortunately, a lot of hurt and great need of healing."
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So what's on the horizon for Bishop Fisher and the Buffalo Diocese following the meeting with Pope Leo XIV? The bishop feels it's important for the Diocese to continue to remain on course.
"We have to continue to work through the intricacies of the process and some of the challenges that we have. But I'm a person of hope, and I think if we can do this together in unity, we'll get through it. But we have to be together, and that's a challenge," Bishop Fisher acknowledged. "I respect everyone's got different opinions, but ultimately, we can't leave anyone behind in this. And we'll get through it. We'll get through it, and the Lord will have us moving forward, and then we'll see what our next challenge is."
Here are some of the other topics discussed with Bishop Fisher during his conversation with WBEN:
On The Vatican's decision to reopen select churches originally set to close/merge in the Road to Renewal:
"So far, we had 32 appeals. Of the 32 that we've received back, 11, and of the 11, nine they upheld our decision. So we know we're following the process correctly. Two of them were rejected, because they didn't follow the process. So we're still waiting on the others, we don't know what will happen there. We just have to continue to work through it."
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On the first year of the Diocese's centralized school system:
"I had a chance to visit the schools during opening week, and there's a great spirit. Enrollment in many of our places is up, which is a good sign, because that's the lifeblood of having the students. I think trying to look at our resources and what are the things that we can do together? Have greater cooperation? And that's being done. That was really an important part of the strategic plan for our schools.
"We have a phenomenal superintendent now, Joleen [Dimitroff], and she's really got a wonderful sense of how to also bring the principals together, to give them a sense of hope and purpose and goals. I feel very good. Education has been one of my priorities, and I don't want to see any more schools closed. But that doesn't necessarily mean also that a school has to be in that classic structure. I think we have to look at new ways at how we we do that."
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On the selection of an American as Pope in Rome:
"I never thought we would ever see an American Pope. I think a lot of us were taken by surprise. It's certainly a joy that he brings, I think, the experience of the Americas, as Francis did in some way, but to North America. I think he's a good listener, he understands and is very empathetic. I think he truly understands what we're experiencing, particularly here in the church in the United States. So very easy to talk to, mostly listening and encouraging."
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