Habemus Papam!
Habemus Papam!
Habemus Papam!
It was with great joy that we heard of Pope Leo XIV’s election on Thursday. Our new Holy Father spoke of the Peace of the Resurrection which Jesus announced to the Apostles when he appeared to them in the Upper Room.
This is a peace ‘which the world cannot give’, it is the gift of the Risen Lord. It is so appropriate that Pope Leo spoke of our need for this gift in our time.
The Pontiff also spoke of building bridges, a theme close to the heart of his predecessor, Pope Francis. We remember that we call him the ‘Pontiff’ because it is short for ‘Pontifex Maximus’ – ‘the great bridge builder’ and we note that he asks us to work with him in this important work.
A particular concern of Robert Francis Prevost has been the care of the poor of needy and no doubt it will be high on his agenda as Pope Leo. This is a challenge for us to look at new ways in which we can reach out to those in need.
In the meantime we give thanks for this new Servant of the Servants of God and offer our prayers for him as he begins this immense work.
O God, who in your providential design willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other Apostles,
look with favour, we pray, on Leo, our Pope,
and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor,
may be for your people a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion.
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.