My dear family in Christ,

Habemus Papam! We have a pope!

I have to admit I was quite surprised when our new pope was introduced to the world; I did not think an American was going to be elected.  It goes to show that God’s ways are not our ways.  As we welcome Pope Leo XIV let us, a local church, united always to our Holy Father, commit ourselves to praying for him as he assumes this most important role.  I understand the burden of the episcopal office, but can only imagine the weight which now lies upon Pope Leo’s shoulders.  He needs our prayers always.

I also ask that we be slow to jump to any conclusions about the Holy Father’s plans, programs or priorities.  He needs time to settle into this new reality which sees him sacrifice even more of his personal life to the burdens of the papacy.  The words of Jesus to St. Peter in John’s gospel will indeed be played out in Leo XIV’s life now:

Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jn. 21:18

His personal life as a brother, friend, and confrere will no longer be so simple.

I do have a bit of a Pope Leo XIV story to share.  When I was in Rome last September, Cardinal Prevost was the host and facilitator for the new Bishops’ course.  We all had time to engage him in conversations in formal and informal settings.  The 16 US bishops also had a private meeting with him as he invited us to participate in a new administrative course being hosted at Villanova University in July of this year.  I found him very gracious, approachable, and down to earth.  How this translates into his papacy I’m not sure, but I have great confidence and hope in his ability to shepherd the universal church.  Unfortunately, I no longer think he will be attending the course at Villanova; he’s likely to be a bit busy.

So, let us pray for Pope Leo XIV every day, asking the Lord to strengthen him and Our Lady to watch over him as he fills the shoes of the fisherman.

God alone suffices.

+JMCD