Habamus Papam!

We have a Pope!

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago, Illinois as been elected by the Conclave as our new Pope. May God bless and lead Pope Leo XIV!

Learn more about our new pontif at  www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/cardinal-elected-pope-papal-name.html

Please keep Pope Leo in your prayers.

O God, eternal shepherd,

who govern your flock with unfailing care,

grant in your boundless fatherly love

a pastor for your Church

who will please you by his holiness

and to us show watchful care.

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.

Peace,

Anne Stephens

Communications Director

First “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing of the Holy Father Leo XIV, 08.05.2025[B0299]

This evening, the Holy Father Leo XIV, preceded by the Cross, appeared at the outer Loggia of the Blessing of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the people and impart the Apostolic Blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.

Before the Blessing, the new Pope addressed the faithful with the following words:

Words of the Holy Father

Peace be with you all!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all nations, the entire earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ—a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God, the God who loves us all unconditionally. We still carry in our ears the weak but ever courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome!

The Pope who blessed Rome was blessing the world, the whole world, that Easter morning. Allow me to carry forward that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, hand in hand with God and with one another, let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge by which God’s love reaches us. Help us, and help one another, to build bridges—with dialogue, with encounter, uniting everyone to be one people, always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!

I also wish to thank all the brother cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always striving to work as faithful men and women of Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who once said: “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together toward that homeland which God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! [applause] We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, that fosters dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. Everyone—all who need our charity, our presence, our dialogue, and our love.

Y si me permiten también, una palabra, un saludo a todos aquellos y en modo particular a mi querida diócesis de Chiclayo, en el Perú, donde un pueblo fiel ha acompañado a su obispo, ha compartido su fe y ha dado tanto, tanto para seguir siendo Iglesia fiel de Jesucristo. (And if you’ll allow me, a word, a greeting to everyone and in particular to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.)

E se mi permettete una parola, un saluto a tutti e in modo particolare alla mia cara diocesi di Chiclayo, in Perù, dove un popolo fedele ha accompagnato il suo vescovo, ha condiviso la sua fede e ha dato tanto, tanto per continuare ad essere Chiesa fedele di Gesù Cristo.(And if you allow me a word, a greeting to everyone and in particular to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people accompanied their bishop, shared their faith, and gave so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.)

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world: we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be near us, to help us with her intercession and her love.

So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask this special grace from Mary, our Mother.

Hail Mary…