In an appearance marked by emotion, the Church welcomed the new Successor of Peter this Thursday, May 8. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope by the conclave that began last Tuesday, May 7, and chose the name Leo XIV.
With a moved expression as he gazed upon the crowd of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the new pontiff addressed his first words to the world. Elected during the Easter season, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the greeting of the Risen Christ, who announces peace.
“Peace be with all of you!
Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock. I also want this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all nations, to the entire earth. Peace be with you!
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed peace and a disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, the God who loves all of us unconditionally. We still remember in our ears the faint but always courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome!
The Pope who blessed Rome was giving his blessing to the whole world, to the entire world, that Easter morning. Allow me to continue with that same blessing: God loves us, God loves all of you, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with each other, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as a bridge to reach God and His love. Help us also, you, and then one another, to build bridges with dialogue, with encounter, bringing us all together to be one people, always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also want to thank all my brother cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and walk with you, as a united Church, always seeking peace, justice, always working as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.
I am a son of St. Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: ‘with you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.’ In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland which God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! [Applause] We must search together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, that dialogues, always open to receive like this square with open arms. To all, to all those in need of our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.”
