Habemus Papam!
Who is the new Pope?
“I’m a son of St. Augustine. I’m an Augustinian.
With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.
So may we all walk together toward the place that God has prepared for us.
May we walk together, accompany each other to the Church of Rome.” – Pope Leox XIV
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th Bishop of Rome and took the name Leo XIV. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on Sept 14, 1955. He grew up in a Catholic family. His father served as a catechist, and priests regularly visited his childhood home. He entered the Augustinian Order in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. His advanced studies were done in Rome in Canon Law. He spent much time in Peru as a priest working in a parish, seminary, and for the Augustinian Order. He also served in different capacities within the Augustinian Order in the United States. In 2014, he returned to Peru and was named Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015. He addressed the people of Chiclayo directly in Spanish during his address in St. Peter’s after the election. In 2023, Pope Francis named him Prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops.
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What does it mean that we have an American Cardinal elected Pope?
While Pope Leo XIV was born in the United States, it’s important to remember that he is now the Bishop of Rome and spent much of his time as a priest and bishop outside of the United States. We can expect him to be careful not to show any preference for the United States in his official actions. What will be helpful for anyone who thinks in English and was formed in an English-speaking culture is that we will more clearly follow the framework of his thought process. Every language shapes a person’s thinking, and every culture creates a lens through which its members see the world. Pope Leo XIV thinks first in English and grew up in the United States, so we can assume that at a very basic level, he will think in the categories of an English speaker (the first time in history!).
What does the choice of Leo XIV as a papal name say about the Pope?
“We’ve got to look at how we can together be a missionary Church—
A Church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone.” – Pope Leo XIV
In general, the Leos have been more theologically rigorous popes. Under Pope Leo XIII, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas saw a revival, and he is famous for his encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed social inequality, the role of capital, and the rights of workers. It also introduced the idea of subsidiarity as an important principle for any organization. Pope Leo I, also known as St. Leo the Great, was known for his strong theology against the Christological heresies of the early Church and for his teaching on the role of the Pope in the Universal Church. Time will tell if and how Pope Leo XIV is inspired by and follows in the footsteps of the Leos who went before him.
Anything else important to note about the new Pope?
No matter who he is and what he does (or doesn’t do), he is our Holy Father, and we should have filial affection and devotion for him. He’s a fallen human being just like every one of us. He has the same humanity as you and me, and he has only 24 hours in the day, just like you and me. The burden that is placed upon his shoulders is immense, and he is trying to lead not just a particular group of people, but the whole world. He will make mistakes. He will make decisions that make certain groups feel neglected or not included. He will sin, and hopefully, he will come to Our Lord for mercy and grace. Just as we want other people to be merciful and understanding toward us in our failings and weaknesses, we should give the Holy Father an extra portion of mercy and understanding to match the size of his responsibility. More than anything, we should embrace him as the new successor to Peter (who also sinned and made quite a few mistakes!) and should pray for him daily. He has been chosen as the Pope for our time. We should do everything we can to support and work with him to continue the mission of the Church:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mt 28:19–20
Pope Leo XIV’s First Blessing
Prayer For The New Pope Leo XIV
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Leo,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
