Pope Leo XIV: A Shepherd for Our Times
Dear friends, on May 8, the feast day of Our Lady of Luján, patroness of Argentina, we will celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as successor of Peter and of the beloved Pope Francis “who came from the ends of the earth.”
To understand Leo, it is helpful to recall Francis, for whom it was important to interpret reality, to highlight the mercy of God who never abandons us, and to address theological pluralism. With his unique perspective on the Church and the world, Pope Francis emphasized the value of discernment and of reading the signs of the times. His encyclicals and exhortations are cornerstones of our life of faith. Evangelii Gaudium outlines his missionary pastoral approach. Querida Amazonia, Ladato si’, and Laudato Deum highlight the urgency of ecological conversion and the care of creation. Fratelli tutti calls for a commitment to a more fraternal and supportive society. Amoris Laetitia proposes a pastoral vision attentive to the complexity of the family, and finally, Dilexit nos, a unique encyclical of its kind, addresses deeply spiritual questions that invite prayer and reflection.
What does Pope Francis’ successor, Leo XIV, have to say to us today? Though I am not qualified to analyze his messages, some of the things he has said have touched my heart, and I felt it was appropriate to share them with you, “my dear reader,” so that we may pray for this man of God called to lead the Church at this difficult moment in history.
I have noticed that Leo frequently quotes Francis, which indicates that his thinking and way of acting, inspired by his Augustinian spirituality, are aligned with those of his most recent successor. The choice of his name has also been a clear message of how he wants to lead the Church, based on the teachings of social justice from Leo XIII, who was Pope from 1878 to 1903. In addition to firmly believing in the need for pastoral activity and defending the rights and dignity of every human person, Leo XIII wrote eleven encyclicals on the rosary. Those of us who are devoted to praying the rosary should read them!
For Leo XIV, his “first great desire,” stated on May 18, 2025, was to become a “unified Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.” From the very beginning, he acknowledged himself as chosen without merit, as a brother who wishes to become a servant of his faith. He expressed his joy to be able to walk together with us, united as a single family, along the path of God’s love. Therefore, love and unity, these two dimensions of the mission that Jesus entrusted to Peter, are his wishes for the Church. Leo said further that, “in this time marked by too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, or fear of what is different, and by an economic paradigm that exploits the earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest,” we want to be, within this mass, a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity. It is the message of hope and peace from a man who sees the world through God’s eyes!
Leo’s vision is for…
…lasting peace where enemies meet and look each other in the eye; a peace that enables people to regain the hope and dignity they deserve.
…justice that will remedy global inequalities where “no one can exempt themselves from protecting the dignity of every person, especially the most fragile and defenseless, from the unborn child to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, whether they are citizens or immigrants.”
…truth, as an encounter with the very person of Christ, who lives in the community of believers and is present in our lives when we recognize him in the breaking of bread.
…a building of bridges, as a shared path that involves everyone in living in a spirit of human brotherhood.
May Mary of Luján, Our Lady of the Way, bless our Pope Leo!
Monica Lacouture was born and raised in Colombia, South America. She moved to the United States in 1995, where she and her husband, Fernando, married and were blessed with three children—Daniel, David, and Christina, whose unwavering faith became the inspiration behind Build the Faith.
Although raised Catholic and educated in parochial schools, Monica describes much of her adult life as that of a “lukewarm” Catholic. That changed unexpectedly in late 2012 when she attended a retreat and had a profound personal encounter with Jesus. She had no idea at the time how much she would come to rely on this renewed faith just three months later, when her daughter Christina was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Throughout Christina’s battle, Monica’s faith deepened, sustained by her daughter’s extraordinary trust in Jesus. In 2016, inspired by Christina’s unwavering faith, Monica and Fernando founded Build the Faith. As President of the organization, Monica feels blessed to carry forward Christina’s legacy, spreading faith and hope to others.
