Week One for the Chicagoan: Top Quotes from the First Week of Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate
And just
like that. Pope Leo XIV has had his first week as Roman Pontiff.
It’s an understatement to say that
the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the successor of St. Peter has been
a source of hope and unity for all in a way that I – and many others – did not
expect. Both those who identify as traditionalists and progressives have expressed joy at his elevation to the
throne of the fisherman from Galiliee. That, in and of itself, is enough to prove that Pope Leo
XVI’s election is indeed monumental for everyone.
In this blog post, I have compiled
some of the best Pope Leo XIV quotes from his speeches from this past week –
starting from his first urbi et orbi blessing
to the world as pope
to his address to the members of the
diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. This post wouldn’t involve too much coming from me.
I will only give brief accompanying commentaries coming from my perspective.
Other than that, I’ll simply let the Pope speak for himself.
“Evil will Not Prevail”
God loves
us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! All of us are in God’s hands.
So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with
one another other! We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world
needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and
his love. Help us, one and all, to build bridges through dialogue and
encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace. – First Urbi et Orbi Blessing (May 8, 2025)
Commentary:
“Each one of our
acts contains a mystery; if the act is morally good and salutary, it is the
mystery of grace; if it is evil, it is the mystery of the divine permission of
evil for the sake of a higher good.”[1]
The whole movement of cosmic history is under the loving guidance of God, the
omnibenevolent and sovereign King of all. Thus, we have nothing to fear and to
be anxious about (Mt 6:25:34). Even evil is possible only by Divine permission,
because God can and will use it as a means to bring about a greater
good. A good example of God allowing evil for the manifestation of a greater
good is His allowing the death of a pope. A pope’s death is always
heartbreaking and a sobering reminder for all of us that even those who are
appointed by God to lead his flock does not have power over mortality. But
through the death of the Vicar of Christ, there’s always that hopeful
anticipation of the election of a new Vicar, an anticipation that has been
recently fulfilled by the election of Pope Leo XIV. His election is the living
proof that “evil will not prevail”! His ascension to the throne of Peter is the
evidence that “gates of hell will not prevail” against Christ’s Church (Mt
16:18). Let us therefore be confident in God’s unbeatable plan for us and for
all His people.
“Called to Bear Witness”
“Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?” If we reflect on the scene we are
considering, we might find two possible answers, which characterize two
different attitudes.
First,
there is the world’s response. Matthew tells us that this conversation between
Jesus and his disciples takes place in the beautiful town of Caesarea Philippi,
filled with luxurious palaces, set in a magnificent natural landscape at the
foot of Mount Hermon, but also a place of cruel power plays and the scene of
betrayals and infidelity. This setting speaks to us of a world that considers
Jesus a completely insignificant person, at best someone with an unusual and
striking way of speaking and acting. And so, once his presence becomes irksome
because of his demands for honesty and his stern moral requirements, this
“world” will not hesitate to reject and eliminate him.
Then
there is the other possible response to Jesus’ question: that of ordinary
people. For them, the Nazarene is not a charlatan, but an upright man, one who
has courage, who speaks well and says the right things, like other great
prophets in the history of Israel. That is why they follow him, at least for as
long as they can do so without too much risk or inconvenience. Yet to them he
is only a man, and therefore, in times of danger, during his passion, they too
abandon him and depart disappointed.
What is
striking about these two attitudes is their relevance today. They embody
notions that we could easily find on the lips of many men and women in our own
time, even if, while essentially identical, they are expressed in different
language.
Even
today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered
absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities
are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.
These are
contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its
truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and
pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our
missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically
accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling
violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds
that afflict our society.
Today,
too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is
reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only
among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up
living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.
This is
the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis
taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in
Jesus the Saviour. Therefore, it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter:
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). – Homily during the Misa Pro Ecclessia
with the College of Cardinals (May 9, 2025)
Commentary:
“Christ, the final
Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully
reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear” (Gaudium et Spes 22). Christ, the God-Man, is the exemplar and provider
of the fulfillment of the deepest yearnings of the human heart, regardless of
race, creed, ideology, etc. Unfortunately, modernity exhibits a certain fear
and hesitation to assent to Him and believe in Him Who is Truth Personified (Jn
14:6) under the guise of “tolerance” or “convenience,” as Pope Leo rightly
observes. It is our job as baptized Catholics to proclaim to the world: “You
are made for more!” All of us are called to transcend religious mediocrity or
what is called moral therapeutic deism (“God is only there to affirm my
selfish desires and to be my last resort in times of personal desperation”),
which sees Christ as a mere “charismatic leader or superman,” a disposition
that leads to – in Pope Leo XIV’s own words – “practical atheism” (“I have no
need of God in my day-to-day life; I can manage”). Let us “bear witness” to the
“joy of loving Jesus” as Mother Teresa puts it. Let us go into the streets,
classrooms, concert grounds, malls, always radiating the power of the Gospel,
so that the world will see the transforming grace that comes from Christ
through His Church.
“To Move Aside so that Christ May
Remain”
Saint
Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city (Rome), the place of his impending
sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: “Then I will truly be a disciple of
Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body” (Letter to the Romans, IV,
1). Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena –
and so it happened – but his words apply more generally to an indispensable
commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It
is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he
may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so
that all may have the opportunity to know and love him. – Homily during the Misa Pro Ecclessia
with the College of Cardinals (May 9, 2025)
Commentary:
“He must increase,
but I must decrease” (John 3:13). This is the whole point of being a
pastor, especially being the pope. Any priest is called to radiate Christ to
the point of self-sacrifice and death of the ego (Col 3:2-3). It is paradoxical
to the ears of secular society, but the whole point of being human is
self-denial, self-gift, in imitation of and for the sake of manifesting the
Divine Love of God showcased in the Crucified Messiah. “Man, who is the
only creature on earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find
himself except through a sincere gift of himself” (Gaudium et Spes 24,
emphasis added). This is the mission of the ordained minister. What else is
there?
“The Miracle of Peace”
But how
many other conflicts there are in the world! I entrust this heartfelt appeal to
the Queen of Peace, so that she may present it to the Lord Jesus to obtain for
us the miracle of peace. – Regina Caeli Address (May 11, 2025)
Commentary:
“Peace be with you”
(Jn 20:21). Peace has been the overarching theme of Pope Leo XIV’s speeches (so
far) and rightly so. The world has no peace – both externally, in how world
events transpire, and internally, within our very hearts and minds who are plagued
with anxiousness and anger. Part of the pope’s mission is to point us to true
peace, a peace that does not come from mere earthly sources, but a supernatural
peace that is only possible through the grace of the Holy Spirit: “Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn
14:27). “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). Let us ask the grace
to be docile to the promptings and call of the Holy Ghost so that, by the
Blessed Mother’s intercession, we may be able to attain peace and in doing so,
spread the peace of Christ which alone satisfies.
“The Eastern Churches are to be
Cherished and Esteemed”
You are
precious in God’s eyes. Looking at you, I think of the diversity of your
origins, your glorious history and the bitter sufferings that many of your
communities have endured or continue to endure. I would like to reaffirm the
conviction of Pope Francis that the Eastern Churches are to be “cherished and
esteemed for the unique spiritual and sapiential traditions that they preserve,
and for all that they have to say to us about the Christian life, synodality,
and the liturgy. We think of early Fathers, the Councils, and monasticism…
inestimable treasures for the Church.” – Address to the Participants in the
Jubilee of Oriental Churches (May 14, 2025)
Commentary:
Many people are
shocked when they learn for the first time that the term “Catholic Church” is not
synonymous with the term “Roman Catholic Church.” The former is
actually a broader term, including not only Roman/Latin Rite Catholics, but
also 23 sui juris churches, still under and in communion with the Bishop
of Rome, with their own liturgical traditions and practices, collectively known
as The Eastern Catholic churches (not to be confused with the Eastern
and Oriental Orthodox churches, which are in schism from the One True
Church). Pope Leo XIV praises the unique patrimony of these Eastern churches
and insists that they be protected. I myself am a beneficiary of the Eastern
tradition, particularly their prayers, especially The Jesus Prayer. I hope and pray that Pope Leo XIV’s
address to the Oriental Churches will be able to serve as a starting point to
all in learning (perhaps for the first time) the Eastern Catholic heritage of
our Holy Mother Church.
“Young People… are a Volcano of Life”
Young
people of our time, like those of every age, are a volcano of life, energy,
sentiments and ideas. It can be seen from the wonderful things they are able to
do, in so many fields. However, they also need help in order for this great
wealth to grow in harmony, and to overcome what, albeit in a different way to
the past, can still hinder their healthy development. While, for example, in
the seventeenth century the use of the Latin language was an insuperable
barrier to communication for many people, today there are other obstacles to be
faced. Think of the isolation caused by rampant relational models increasingly
marked by superficiality, individualism and emotional instability; the spread
of patterns of thought weakened by relativism; and the prevalence of rhythms
and lifestyles in which there is not enough room for listening, reflection and
dialogue, at school, in the family, and sometimes among peers themselves, with
consequent loneliness. – Audience with the Brothers of the
Christian Schools (May
15, 2025)
Commentary:
I know from
experience that this “volcanic” energy of the youth today is indeed a wonderful
thing, but lacking any guide that will harness it to the right path toward
Christ, it has also led many young people toward despair and sin. Pope Leo XIV
pointed out, among other things, individualism and relativism as hindrances to
proper development. I’ve pointed out in my last blog post
that individualism leads to relativism, anarchic fragmentation of society, and
ultimately to tyranny. This is not good for anyone, not just the young. We must
combat it at all costs and follow the pope’s wise observation. Let us help the
youth overcome a sense of meaninglessness by pointing them to the very Meaning –
the Logos – that they seek, a Meaning that is not just a concept, but a Person
(Jn 1:1).
“A Time for Conversion and Renewal”
My
ministry has begun in the heart of a Jubilee Year, devoted in a particular way
to hope. It is a time of conversion and renewal and, above all, an opportunity
to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, confident that, by working
together, each of us in accordance with his or her own sensibilities and
responsibilities, can build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically
human life in truth, justice and peace. It is my hope that this will be the
case everywhere, starting with those places that suffer most grievously, like
Ukraine and the Holy Land. – Address
to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See (May 16,
2025)
Commentary:
It is tragic that
there are places in the world even today that have people suffering and dying
from various ills and socio-political problems like war. But Pope Leo XIV points
to the very core of the problem: the human heart. War, no matter how tragic,
is, at best, already the fruit, but not the root, of evil. Evil starts with us.
And so the solution to all war is, as Pope Leo XIV says, “conversion and
renewal.” It will all depend if we are docile enough to both graces. If
we are, then we can change the world for the better. Let us take this seriously
as a challenge from the pope: Will we remain as we are, or will we be cognizant
of the fact that we can still do so much more?
“Do Not Be Afraid!”
And to
young people, I say: “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and
of Christ the Lord!” – Regina Caeli Address (May 11, 2025)
Commentary:
This connects so well
to the previous quote just examined. This invitation applies to young people,
yes, but it also applies to all, by extension. Do you want more? Do you
really want to search for the very fulfillment of your heart’s desire? Do you
want the fullness of life and joy? If so, do not hesitate to take that leap
toward the arms of Christ! Do not be afraid to be taught, even challenged, by
the perennial teachings of the Church! Christ said, “I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). This is an astonishing
statement. Do you want this? Then “come and see” (Jn 1:39)!
“Evangelizing by Educating, Educating
by Evangelizing”
Saint John
Baptist de La Salle did not want there to be priests among the teachers of the
Christian Schools, but only “brothers”, so that all your efforts would be
directed, with God’s help, to the education of the pupils. He loved to say:
“Your altar is the cathedra”, thus promoting a reality hitherto unknown in the
Church of his time: that of lay teachers and catechists, invested in the
community with a genuine “ministry”, in accordance with the principle of
evangelizing by educating, and educating by evangelizing (cf. Francis, Address
to participants in the General Chapter of the Brothers of the Christian
Schools, 21 May 2022). – Audience with the Brothers of the
Christian Schools (May
15, 2025)
Commentary:
As a “religious
educator in training” myself, I appreciate this statement so much. Pope Leo XIV
sees the value of laymen and women propagating the faith by education.
This reinforces the basic truth about being Catholic: evangelizing is the
prerogative not only of the ordained, but of all the baptized! We “evangelize
by educating and educate by evangelizing.” It is true that the Pope was
originally addressing the Lasallian brothers in his address, but what he said
applies to us all. Let us spread the Gospel to very ends of the earth,
regardless of our status in life.
“Recovering the Sense of Mystery in
the Liturgy”
Over a
century ago, Leo XIII pointed out that “preserving the Eastern rites is more
important than is generally realized”. He went so far as to decree that “any
Latin-Rite missionary, whether a member of the secular or regular clergy, who
by advice or support draws any Eastern-Rite Catholic to the Latin Rite” ought
to be “dismissed and removed from his office” (ibid). We willingly reiterate
this appeal to preserve and promote the Christian East, especially in the
diaspora. In addition to establishing Eastern circumscriptions wherever
possible and opportune, there is a need to promote greater awareness among
Latin Christians. In this regard, I ask the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
– which I thank for its work – to help me to define principles, norms, and
guidelines whereby Latin Bishops can concretely support Eastern Catholics in
the diaspora in their efforts to preserve their living traditions and thus, by
their distinctive witness, to enrich the communities in which they live. The
Church needs you. The contribution that the Christian East can offer us today
is immense! We have great need to recover the sense of mystery that remains
alive in your liturgies, liturgies that engage the human person in his or her
entirety, that sing of the beauty of salvation and evoke a sense of wonder at
how God’s majesty embraces our human frailty! It is likewise important to
rediscover, especially in the Christian West, a sense of the primacy of God,
the importance of mystagogy and the values so typical of Eastern spirituality:
constant intercession, penance, fasting, and weeping for one’s own sins and for
those of all humanity (penthos)! It is vital, then, that you preserve your
traditions without attenuating them, for the sake perhaps of practicality or
convenience, lest they be corrupted by the mentality of consumerism and
utilitarianism. – Address to the Participants in the
Jubilee of Oriental Churches (May 14, 2025)
Commentary:
The Eastern Liturgy
is a rich showcase of Divine Mystery incarnated
through physical signs and wonders. This is, after all, the point of
liturgical worship: to use the things of the earth as instruments so that God’s
eternal glory will be manifested, just like Christ, Who revealed Himself
through His physical body. Prior to even being a bishop, then Fr. Robert
Prevost has expressed
his opposition of turning the liturgy into a spectacle and deemphasizing
mystery. By that very statement, we know that he has very good liturgical
sensibilities. The Eastern Liturgy, as I’ve said, is also very cognizant of
this, and so many of us within the Latin rite church ought to relearn this by
looking at our Eastern brethren and remember that the Liturgy is not a place to
simply show our self-centered aesthetic preferences, but an opportunity to
glorify the ineffable Majesty of the Trinity.
And there
you have it: a few of my favorite quotes from the first week of Pope Leo XIV’s
pontificate. May these statements be a source of reflection and consolation for
you and help you think through various issues in your own life and in the life
of the Church and the world. Viva Il Papa!
[1] Garrigou-Lagrange,
R. G. (2018). The sense of mystery: clarity and obscurity in the
intellectual life. Emmaus Academic.
Comments
Post a Comment