“You are Peter!”

Even though we knew it would eventually come, the passing of Pope Francis came as a surprise. After his long hospitalization this spring, he still made appearances during Holy Week and managed to give his blessing to the Church and to the world on Easter Sunday. He wanted to be with the people of God. But after his long labors, the Lord called him home on Easter Monday, in the hope of resurrection joy. Pope Francis was a blessing to us in many ways, and we give thanks for his twelve years of service as our Holy Father. 

But a bigger surprise was still to come! Like most of you, I was astonished on May 8 to see that our new pope is an American, a native of Chicago. After hearing for years that an American would never be elected pope, it was wonderful to see one of our own—Pope Leo XIV—standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica speaking to the entire world as our new shepherd. And the election drew the attention not only of Catholics but of other Christians and non-Christians of all nations. The passing of Pope Francis was a moment of mourning, but the surprise election of Pope Leo was an historic moment of great joy and a time of renewed hope for the universal Church. 

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt. 16:18). With these words, Jesus called Simon the fisherman to a lofty mission in the plan of God. He would be the leader of the followers of Jesus, the leader of the newborn Church. And the successors of Peter would likewise carry forward this important mission, a call to be the chief shepherd of the flock, the rock of strength and fidelity for all those who seek to follow Christ. Just as Jesus called Peter to strengthen his brethren, so now does the pope strengthen all the faithful in our journey of faith. 

The ministry of the pope—the successor of Peter—is a great gift from our Lord to his people. The pope is the supreme and universal pastor for the entire Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, the pope, the Bishop of Rome, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful” (882). We call the pope the “Vicar of Christ” because he has been entrusted with the pastoral care of Christ’s flock. The Supreme Pontiff has the mandate and divine assistance to teach authoritatively on matters of faith and morals, and to assure that the Gospel of Christ is taught in its fullness throughout the Church. 

In recent years, the popes have become great missionaries as they travel the world to preach Christ and support the mission of the Church. They have become messengers of peace, and indeed Pope Leo spoke of peace in his very first message from the balcony of St. Peter’s. The pope is a moral authority who calls everyone to strive for holiness, and challenges us when we need to be challenged. As St. Gregory the Great stated, the pope is “the servant of the servants of God,” the one who must follow the example of Christ himself in service to the Church. In his homily at his Inaugural Mass, Pope Leo himself said, “Beginning with Saint Peter and up to myself, his unworthy Successor, the pope has been a humble servant of God and of his brothers and sisters, and nothing more than this.” 

Inevitably, there are some who will attempt to categorize him or politicize the ministry of the pope. Some commentators are already making dogmatic statements about what kind of pope he will be. But I would recommend we pay less attention to them, and instead listen to the pope himself. As we get to know him, we will see and hear Christ working through him, even with his human limitations. By virtue of his office and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, he will preach the Gospel and proclaim the person of Christ. We have been privileged to see some remarkable men sitting in the chair of St. Peter, and I have no doubt that Pope Leo will be a worthy successor for our times. 

Dear friends, as Pope Leo XIV begins his Petrine ministry, let us pray fervently for him. The burdens of his office are heavy, and every pope admits that he could never carry the burden alone. It is only out of love that he is able to say yes to this calling, and only with the grace of God and the prayers of the Church that he can bear the burden placed on his shoulders. We have a duty in charity to pray for our pope and to spiritually support him as he shepherds the vast flock that Jesus has placed under his care. Of course, we pray for the pope at every celebration of Mass. The Catechism explains: “Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist” (1369). Let me suggest that each home should have a picture of Pope Leo, so we can always remember him with love and pray for him daily.  

I have great hopes that the election of a pope from the United States will be an experience of extraordinary grace for the Church in our country. Already, people are fascinated by him and by the Lord he represents. Let us ask Mary, St. Peter, and all the apostles to intercede for him, and let us join him in making Christ known to everyone we meet.