Exactly one month after his appointment as Archbishop of Prague and Primate of Bohemia, Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl CSsR was received in a private audience by Pope Leo. The meeting lasted forty-five minutes—well beyond the originally scheduled time—and was marked by a cordial atmosphere and a profound exchange on pastoral and social issues.
In an interview with the Czech editorial team of Vatican Radio, Archbishop Přibyl said they discussed the ministry that awaits him as Metropolitan of Prague. It was clear that the Pope is very familiar with the reality of the Church in the Czech Republic, having visited the country several times in the past as Superior General of the Augustinians, he said.
Bishop Přibyl recalled his statement that he was willing to meet with those who, in some way, have not been fully at the center of the Church’s attention and who would like to be heard. He acknowledged that, given the polarization of the Czech Church, what is important is the inspiration of Leo XIV, and his repeated words after Christ: “Peace be with you.”
“Looking at the bridge from which St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the Vltava, we must build bridges of human relationships and look upon one another as friends, brothers, and sisters, bearing witness to the world around us and proclaiming the Gospel. We have much to do in this area, because so much division among us.” According to the Archbishop of Prague, the model of this attitude is the Pope himself, with his ability to listen to others.
Speaking about his pastoral plans, Archbishop Přibyl admitted that he is passionate about reaching contemporary people with the Gospel, those who consider themselves non-believers. “Yesterday I spoke with a woman who told me with great regret that she would like to believe, but can’t. And I told her that I think she’s already a believer. She just mistakenly imagines that her faith should be different.”
The Archdiocese of Prague, which will see the installation of Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl on April 25, 2026, is the oldest and most prestigious ecclesiastical district in the Czech Republic, dating back to the 10th century. Despite this rich historical heritage, the local Church must address the challenges of today’s society. It is worth remembering that the Czech Republic remains one of the most secularized countries in the world. According to the 2021 census, approximately 47.8% of the population declares itself atheist or without religion. Catholics represent approximately 9.3% of the population.
Scala News (based on information available on vaticannews.va)
