AMID A DIVINE ATMOSPHERE,
POPE LEO XIV ASSUMES OFFICE TODAY
CHURCH TO BE A MISSIONARY FORCE:
POPE LEO XIV
The Papal Inauguration Mass Marks
the Official
Start of his term
Reverberating Through Conscience of
‘Global Church’
Leo XIV will Preside Over his
First General
Audience after three days
VANAM JWALA NARASIMHA RAO
The Hans India (18-05-2025)
{Recent Vatican statements indicate
that his agenda will build on Pope Francis’s legacy, emphasizing social
justice, climate action, and global equity, while introducing a renewed focus
on inclusive dialogue. He may moderate divisive positions, especially on
bioethics to promote unity. Sources suggest his active digital presence,
including a recent tweet addressing youth, underscores his commitment to direct
global engagement} -Editor Synoptic Note
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the
United States of America is the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic
Church. He is the first American to occupy the reverentially exalted
position.
On his election on May 8, 2025, the
new Pope took the name Pope Leo XIV, clad in the traditional white cassock of
the pontiff, greeted thousands of onlookers by saying ‘Peace be with you’
from the Balcony of St Peter's Basilica when the centuries-old bells of it
tolled with solemn finality, their sound rolling across the Vatican City and ‘Reverberating
Through The Conscience of a Global Church.’
His election was greeted in Vatican
City, in Chicago where he was born, and in Peru. While in Peru and appointed as
Bishop, he became a Naturalized Peruvian Citizen, before he was made a cardinal
in 2023.
The bells of the Catholic Cathedral in
Lima, where Pope Leo XIV lived for nine years rang when the announcement came.
His choice to be called Pope Leo XIV was a clear and deliberate reference to
the Leo XIII, the Pope from 1878 to 1903, who became known as the ‘Pope of
the Workers.’
Pope Leo XIV referred to the notion of
a ‘Global Church’ in his first address to the faithful after his
election.
A secret election process involving
cardinals to elect a new pope through a papal conclave, when the Holy Chair
becomes vacant is exceedingly methodical. This process which in all aspects is
unique and interesting, carried in the sacred place, the Sistine Chapel under
the watchful eyes of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. This fresco is deeply
intertwined with the Papal Election Process.
The cardinals who vote in the conclave
to elect the Pope do so within the Sistine Chapel, and they take an oath of
secrecy under the gaze of the figures in ‘The Last Judgment.’
Fresco's depiction of Christ's Final
Judgment symbolizes the seriousness and significance of the papal election,
which determines the future leader of the Catholic Church. The procedures
of the conclave are ancient, intricate, and infused with symbolism. Each
cardinal receives a ballot marked ‘Eligo in Summum Pontificem’ (I elect
as Supreme Pontiff) and writes in their chosen candidate.
They are not permitted to vote for
themselves. They then fold the ballot, hold it up for visibility and carry it
to the altar (table) where a ceremonial chalice (vessel) atop the altar,
covered by a plate awaits. After each round of voting, the ballots are counted
and burned in a special stove fitted with chemicals to signal the result to the
outside world: ‘Black Smoke’ if no decision is reached, ‘White Smoke’
if a new pope has been elected.
Likewise, this time also, the group of
133 cardinals, reached a quick consensus and announced their decision after
being in the conclave for little over 24 hours, and after several rounds of
voting.
As the Senior Cardinal Deacon appeared
beside Robert Francis Prevost and chanted the words ‘Habemus Papam’ (We
have a Pope), a familiar thrill surged through the gathered mass in St Peter’s
Square, and across the millions watching live around the world, including me on
BBC.
The 69-year-old Cardinal Prevost, seen
as a balanced alternative, emerged as the preferred choice in the Conclave.
For two days, the faithful in St
Peter’s Square watched the chimney on the Sistine Chapel roof with eager
anticipation. Black smoke curled skyward after the early votes, casting
suspense into the air. Then, on the afternoon of the second day, a plume of unmistakably
‘White Smoke’ emerged, drawing cries of joy and wonder from the crowd.
Bells rang, flags waved, and prayers rose. In that singular moment, ancient
ritual met modern expectation. Cameras zoomed in. The name announced was met
with both curiosity and cautious optimism: Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope
Robert XIV.
The highly choreographed and secretive
process of electing a pope thus came to an end, when Pope Leo XIV was
introduced on May 8. But the oath of secrecy is generally kept for a bit
longer. The days after election, in the pope’s life will be a mix of private
decisions and public presentations. Celebrating Mass at the Sistine Chapel with
the cardinals who voted for him, being the first among them, in the morning
after his election, Pope returned to the Chapel on Friday, May 9, 2025 and
presided over his first Mass, calling for ‘Missionary Outreach’ to build
faith in the Church.
Evoking the teachings of Pope Francis,
Pope delivered a lecture rich in theological references, pledging to side with
‘Ordinary People’ and against the rich and powerful.
Addressing a solemn gathering of the
cardinals, he said that ‘Loss of Religious Faith’ contributed to ‘Appalling
Violations of Human Dignity’ around the world. Reciting the Regina Coeli (Marian
and Christological prayer honoring the Virgin Mary during the Easter season) at
St Peter’s Basilica, first meet with journalists at the Vatican, decision where
he wants to live etc. will follow.
Pope Leo XIV in his first official
speech on May 10, 2025, delivered to the Cardinals, centered around themes of
gratitude, responsibility, and the ongoing journey of the Church. He expressed
his awareness of the immense burden of the Papacy and called for the ‘Church
to be a Missionary Force’ building bridges and offering charity and
dialogue to those in need.
In his first Sunday noon blessing at
St Peter's Basilica to an estimated 100,000 people, Pope called for peace in
Ukraine and ceasefire in Gaza.
Known for his calm demeanor,
theological clarity, and commitment to synodality, the principle of collective judgment
in Church Governance, Prevost was not a frontrunner when the conclave began.
But as the early rounds of voting revealed division among the electors, his
name began to gather quiet momentum, emerging as a consensus figure able to
bridge the ideological currents swirling through the modern Church.
His election as Pope carries both
historical novelty and symbolic weight. His first appearance on the terrace was
striking in its simplicity. He raised his hand in blessing, not with grand
papal theatrics, but with gentle pastoral poise. In his brief address, he spoke
of a Church called to listen before speaking, to heal before instructing. His
emphasis on the woundedness of the world, on the need for unity among
Christians and compassion toward all people, signaled continuity with Pope
Francis’s Vision, yet with a tone distinctly his own.
For few weeks, new Pope is expected to
attract a diverse international delegation, though Pope Leo XIV insists on a
modest ceremony. Recent Vatican statements indicate his agenda will build on
Pope Francis’s legacy, emphasizing social justice, climate action, and global
equity, while introducing a renewed focus on inclusive dialogue. He may
moderate divisive positions, especially on bioethics to promote unity. Sources
suggest his active digital presence, including a recent tweet addressing youth,
underscores his commitment to direct global engagement. The Vatican’s
sustainable event planning reflects his environmental priorities, signaling a
papacy rooted in humility and action.
A poignant image captures the essence
of this historic transition. Moments after addressing the jubilant crowd, Pope
Leo XIV entered St Peter’s Basilica alone, pausing before Saint Peter’s statue.
He bowed, touched the bronze foot, and stood in silent prayer.
This intimate gesture, witnessed by
few but shared widely, embodied succession, service, and sacrifice. In a world
grappling with division, disillusionment, and spiritual fatigue, the Church has
chosen a shepherd to guide, but not to rule, with humility and hope as his
cornerstones, to fulfill the vision of a Global Church set forth by Pope
Leo XIV himself.
Meanwhile, the Vatican has announced
that Pope Leo XIV assumes office on May 18, 2025 and presides over
his first general audience after three days.
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