“Peace be with you all! This was the first greeting of the Risen Jesus. The good shepherd who gave his life for the people of God”.
This is how the new Pope Leo XIV began his first greeting upon his election.
He is an Augustinian missionary, son of immigrants, American by birth and Peruvian by adoption, who for twelve years served as Prior General of the Augustinians and who has been a missionary in Peru for 18 years.
In these days there will be much talk about his past, they will try to find out his style, his inclinations, they will debate whether he is more conservative or progressive….
By his fruits you will know him (Mt 7:16).
We pray for him and for his new mission, so important for the whole church and for the whole world.
But not only do we want to accompany him with our prayers, but we also want to be co-responsible. The Church has been praying that the Holy Spirit will accompany us at this time and help us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and help in the needs of the world.
This is not only the task of the Pope, but of each and every one of us Christians. It is up to each and every one of us who are called to be faithful to the Gospel. If we want a Church close to those who suffer, of simple life, of deep hope that can transmit the peace that the risen Lord wants for all, … If we want it to be a helping hand that consoles and helps in difficult moments, the tireless companion that encourages in the struggle for a more just and humane world for all, that creates bridges so that war or violence is never the solution to conflicts, that helps to understand the richness of those who are different and drives away the fear of the unknown or of those who come from another country, another culture or who profess another faith. If we seek a world without so many inequalities where we know how to share the richness, more than enough for everyone but that many times is hoarded by few and causes difficulties for many… If we want to take care of the earth, our common home, which is a loan of future generations and a place to enjoy the wonders that God has given us… …. If we want a Church worthy of the Holy Spirit himself, it is up to all of us to discern the responsibility we have. It is up to each one of us personally to take a step forward. It is up to us as a community to help each other, to comfort each other, to question each other, to strengthen each other and to walk together because together we find God who makes himself present among us.
We pray for the new pope and for each of us Christians called to serve the world and to follow in the footsteps of the Risen Jesus who precedes us, who continues to open roads, accompanying and living on the peripheries, close to those who need him and faithful until his last breath.
First words of the new Pope Leo XIV
Here is his first message translated:
Peace be with you! Dear brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they may be; and to all peoples and the whole earth: peace be with you.
This is the peace of the risen Christ, a disarming, humbling and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves us all, without limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the faint but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day, on Easter morning.
Let me continue with that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in God’s hands. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him as a bridge to reach God and his love. Help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so that we may all be one people always at peace.
Thank you, Pope Francis!
Thank you to my brother cardinals who elected me to be the successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church seeking all together peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the Gospel.
I am a son of St. Augustine, I am an Augustinian. He said: “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop”. May we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: we must seek together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialoguing, always open to receive with open arms everyone, like this square, open to all, to whoever needs our charity, our presence, our dialogue, our love.
And if I may also say a word, a greeting, to all those, and in particular to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their Bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, in order to continue to be the faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially with those who suffer.
Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii.
Our Blessed Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. Therefore, let us pray together for this mission, for the whole Church and for peace in the world.
Let us ask this special grace to Mary, our mother.
