Habemus Papam
Bishop Robert Prevost was elected pope and chose the name Leo XIV on May 8th, 2025. Like many who saw his face for the first time, his pastoral presence struck me, as did the kindness of his features, and his obvious intelligence of as a multi-lingual Church leader.
Peruvian Catholics are at least as excited as the rest of North America. By all accounts, Bishop Prevost was an excellent Pastor throughout his missionary years. His homily during the Mass of Inauguration recounted the words of Jesus to Peter on the shores of Galilee. “Peter: Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) “When Jesus addresses Peter, the Gospel uses the Greek verb “agapáo,” which refers to the love that God has for us, to the offering of himself without reserve and without calculation. Whereas the verb used in Peter’s response describes the love of friendship that we have for one another.” (Pope Leo XIV) Pope Leo explained that the kind of love that Peter (and his successors) would need to carry out this ministry would require “giving his life for the flock,” a “self-sacrificing love.”
Pope Francis gave the Easter address and received papal audiences the day before he died. Pope St. John Paul II allowed the world to see the extent of his suffering even as he continued to minister to the crowds gathered at the Vatican. Being elected to the papacy includes embracing the suffering of the world. Pope Leo made it clear in his homily that he is not interested in autocratic rule, rather, he wants to walk alongside his brothers and sisters in faith. He quotes St. Augustine, who defines the Church in terms of the harmony of brothers and sisters who choose to love their neighbor.
Further, Pope Leo was not interested in speaking about his authority. He chose to emphasize his desire that the Church be a sign of union and communion for the whole world. For the peace of Christ to reign in the world, we can unite in hope with others in Christian Churches, other faiths, and people of goodwill everywhere. This is what makes peace possible. His first words when he appeared on the balcony included a prayer for peace. By offering God’s love to everyone and respecting their cultural and religious differences, we can achieve a unity that does not cancel differences but values the unique personal history of everyone.
Though Pope Leo was born in Chicago, he is truly a citizen of the world. Much of his adult life was spent as a missionary in Peru. These early remarks of our new Pope suggest that he truly values every human life and appreciates the diversity and uniqueness of every living person. He reminds us that the heart of the gospel is the love of God, which makes us brothers and sisters to each other.
As a missionary, as a priest, as a Bishop and as Pope, Leo chooses to serve all whom he encounters as their brother. This humble and capable shepherd knows this to be true because Jesus taught us all to call God our Abba, our Father. “Habemus Papam” and we are blessed indeed.
Colm Is a Deacon in the Archdiocese of Boston and a prison Chaplain. He and his wife Julie have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren. His Catholic faith has always been a central part of his family and work life and is a source of endless joy.
