A new pontificate begins

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the Catholic Church’s 267th pope on May 8, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. At 69, he became the first American pope, a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, and the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to ascend to the papacy.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV grew up in a devout Catholic family in Dolton, Illinois. He pursued his religious vocation in Peru, where he served as a missionary bishop and later as the head of the Augustinian province. His international experience and commitment to social justice led to his appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023, roles that elevated his standing within the Church.

Following his election, Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd of tens of thousands from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, expressing gratitude for the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing. He emphasised themes of peace, unity, and the Church’s role as a beacon of hope in a troubled world.

The day after his election, he celebrated his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel, warning against a lack of faith and calling for the Church to illuminate the dark nights of the world. During his initial public prayer on May 11, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ enduring spiritual message and vowed to continue spreading the gospel and promoting peace.

Pope Leo XIV has pledged to continue Pope Francis’s modernisation efforts, focussing on collegiality, social justice, and engagement with the marginalised. He will also address such issues as artificial intelligence and workers’ rights, in the spirit of Leo XIII’s groundbreaking Rerum Novarum.

His election also signifies a shift toward more collective governance among cardinals, a departure from the more individual leadership style of Pope Francis. This approach reflects his commitment to collaborative decision-making and inclusivity within the Church.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been met with widespread acclaim, particularly in the United States, where many Catholics express pride and optimism. His Creole heritage from New Orleans has energised Catholics of colour, while his digital footprint has brought a new kind of transparency to the papacy. His calls for peace in conflict zones such as Gaza and Ukraine, and his emphasis on social justice, has resonated globally with people seeking moral leadership in troubled times.

The Redemptorists of Oceania welcomed the new pope. Fr Sam Kono CSsR, Acting Provincial said, “With gratitude, we congratulate our new leader of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost who chooses the name Pope Leo XIV. May he be enriched by the Spirit as he commences his papacy. We assure him of our prayers for this new ministry. May wisdom shine, hope increase, and love prevail. Viva il Pope Leo XIV.”

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) also offered its congratulations. Conference president, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, said, “The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV is yet again a sign of the wisdom behind the Italian saying that ‘those who enter the conclave as a pope inevitably emerge from the conclave as a cardinal’”.

Archbishop Costelloe said the new pope would guide the Church with renewed hope and strength.

“He will be warmly welcomed by the Church in Latin America, as Pope Francis was, by the Church in the United States from where he comes, from the English-speaking world as a native English speaker, and from the whole Church as a man of God steeped in the rich spirituality of his Augustinian Religious Order.

“As Pope Leo XIV, our new pope will bring the benefit of his wide experience to the many challenges and opportunities before him. The Catholic Church in Australia assures Pope Leo XIV of our prayers, loyalty, and joyful anticipation of his spiritual leadership. May his pontificate be marked by peace, unity, and a deepening of the Gospel message throughout the world,” he said.

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