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BISHOP'S OFFICE

A Pastoral Message on the Election of Pope Leo XIV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”  - Matthew 5:9 (NRSVA)

Pope Leo XIV is a leader who has devoted himself to helping the poor and the marginalized in Peru and other parts of the world. A descendant of immigrants, with Italian and Hispanic ancestry, raised by working-class parents in Chicago, he is the first American-born Pope.

As a first-generation immigrant who served as a bishop for eight years in downtown Chicago, I am delighted that a very close neighbor has become the Pope.

He has been known for his very conservative stance on theological heritage and the social implications. Many hope he will continue to uphold Pope Francis’s spirit and build a bridge among the divided. We pray he will lead new possibilities for our troubled humanity. I expect humility in the leadership of this Pope, and I believe that only the humility to wash the feet of the wounded can fulfill the will of the Lord to bring true peace to the world.

I look forward to the first Pope from the United States helping our nation live out God’s love and mercy here at home and around the world. I look forward to living a simple but charismatic path to save poor countries from war, reconcile conflicts, and ensure that humanity no longer despairs over the destruction of the ecosystem.

I pray that the leadership of the religious world can create a new world where everyone is respected and treated fairly, in a world where humanity is suffering from poverty, war, imperialistic monopoly, and greed. Our church, whether Catholic or Protestant, accelerates de-religionization by dropping the gospel for the poor on the ground. The calling of Jesus Christ is to continuously create peace and create a world of equality for people who are discriminated against.

Blessings and prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his tenure. His first greeting was, "May the peace be with you. This is the peace of the Risen Christ." He went on to say, "We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and keep our arms open ... ."

As I look to the demands and responsibilities of leadership that a brother in faith must exercise toward the global church, I find myself praying for his daily life and for the Catholic Church. We are all called to peace. We can never be lazy in building peace. Lord, give us peace as your gift.

May it be so!