This week has been such a beautiful time in our Church’s history! The anticipation leading up to the Conclave found many voices and opinions circulating on both mainstream news and social media channels. Questions about the cardinals’ voting process and speculations about who the next Pope could be seemed to be flooding the internet. How incredible that the Catholic Church is still so relevant in today’s modern society, despite all the pushback coming from those who wish to suppress it entirely.
Inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath the stunning fresco of The Last Judgment, the cardinals gathered to discern who would bear the weight of becoming the Successor of Peter. As the white smoke finally emerged from that chimney, loud cheers of excitement were heard across the square, reverberating into the hearts of millions watching from home.
Habemus Papam!
The anticipation was over. The announcement was declared from the balcony: “Habemus Papam!” What a special moment as our new shepherd stepped forward behind the crucifix to greet his flock. Pope Leo XIV was introduced to the world for the first time, and he appeared to be overcome with emotion – as would be expected when met with such an honorable responsibility. He smiled through tears, waving to the people cheering below, as they expectantly awaited to hear his first words.
Peace was his first greeting, just as “this [was] the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock” (quote from Pope Leo XIV’s first speech). The Vicar of Christ went on to declare that “evil will not prevail,” understanding the reality that the devil is running rampant throughout the world, attacking virtue and holiness, but most of all, attacking specifically the Catholic Church. Whenever we have seen desecrations and sacrileges, consecrated hosts being stolen for Satanic Black “Masses,” it has always been the Catholic Church holding this target on Her back. This is surely because the devil knows that She in all Her Wisdom contains the fullness of truth within the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Trust in the Lord
“We are all in the hands of God,” he says, describing a childlike dependence that we can all strive to attain, showing ultimate trust and faith in Him. Pope Leo XIV encouraged us in this most virtuous path, knowing that he was chosen by his fellow cardinals, who, invoking the guidance of the Holy Ghost, put all their hope in the Lord. He knows that he cannot control outcomes, but rather, he bears the weight of the responsibility of guiding the Church towards Heaven.
He described how Humanity desperately needs Jesus to reach God and His Love. Without God the Son, we would, by our own sinfulness, cast ourselves away from the sight of the Lord, enduring eternity without His comforting Presence and Mercy. However, through the merits of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, we have a place prepared for us at the Heavenly Banquet.
A Mission of Peace and Justice
God has given us a mission as His chosen people to evangelize and save souls, proclaiming the Gospel without fear. Pope Leo XIV mentioned how peace and justice go hand in hand, as indeed they do. As we journey through this fallen world, we must pray for the conversion of sinners and an end to all wars, injustices, and all the terrible things that surface when a society rejects Christ and His commandments.
In the same breath, God is a Just Judge, and when we meet him face to face at the end of our lives, we will have to account for all our sins and shortcomings. But we also have hope that His Divine Mercy is overflowing and abundantly pouring into us, if with true contrition we pray that we may receive it.
Proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel is a difficult and narrow path. We must not expect to be met with affirmations from the world that hated our Savior, rather, we should anticipate unjust judgments, persecution, hateful speech, constant misunderstandings, and might even lose friends and family in the process. We look to Him, our Solace and Peace, to encourage us, steadily marching forward with the aim to convert minds and bring souls to the Lord.
Saintly Patronage
As a devotee of St. Augustine, Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of this influential Bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose writings greatly influenced the future of Catholicism and how people understand the qualities of God. As the author of “City of God,” this great saint is a source of inspiration for our times where there truly is a divide between good and evil in the form of common moral depravity versus contemporary Christian culture.
The Pope closed his address with a mention of our Lady, who “always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love.” Asking Mary for this special grace, he led us in praying a “Hail Mary” in Italian, as the whole world joined in this most beautifully simple supplication.
Two other Patron Saints that come to mind for this papacy are Pope Leo XIII and St. Michael. This conclave ended on the Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael. Pope Leo XIII is the author of the Prayer to St. Michael, written in urgency after he had a vision of satan asking God for permission to attack the Church (St. Joseph’s Church The Vision of Pope Leo XIII).
Praying for a Saintly Pope
During this week of Conclave, my husband and I prayed for a holy Pope, one who will lead his flock closer to the Lord, and by His grace, become a saint in the process. Most people seemed to be sure of only one thing: that of course we would not have an American Pope, considering the “superpower” reputation of the country. But maybe an American Pope is just what the Church needs. In this past Sunday’s sermon, our pastor referenced a quote from St. Vincent de Lerins, who said, “Some popes the Lord gives to the Church, others He tolerates in the Church, and yet others He inflicts upon the Church” (Clovis Francis: A Pope for our times – part 4). We will just have to wait and see which category Pope Leo XIV will fall under over the course of his papacy.
In the meantime, we pray! We pray for his holiness, for our holiness, and for a resurgence in faithful and devout Catholicism in the world. May Pope Leo XIV have the character of a lion, from which the familiar papal name draws its meaning. May he be a bold defender of the faith amid times of controversy and division, like Pope Leo the Great, the first Pope to bear the name (Heinlein Besides Pope Leo XIII). May he be inspired by the five Saint Pope Leos before him and may all of Heaven and Earth pray for a beautiful, unifying mission ahead. May he lead with clarity, prudence, fortitude, meekness, a desire for restoration, defense of Church doctrine, and above all, a return to sanctity, humility, and diligence in the pursuit of sainthood.
Sources:
Heinlein, Michael R. “Besides Leo XIII, 12 Other Popes Have Shared That Name with New Pontiff; 5 Are Saints.” OSV News, 11 May 2025, www.osvnews.com/besides-leo-xiii-12-other-popes-have-shared-that-name-with-new-pontiff-5-are-saints/.
“The Vision of Pope Leo XIII.” St Josephs Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 2020, stjosephschurch.net/vision-of-pope-leo-xiii/.
“Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s First Speech as Pope Leo XIV.” NPR, NPR, 8 May 2025, www.npr.org/2025/05/08/nx-s1-5392318/transcript-pope-leo-xiv-speech.
