Pope Leo refers to his appointment as a blessing and a cross.
On Thursday, May 8, Robert Francis Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—became the first American to be elected as pope. Speaking in Spanish and Italian to the applauding crowd, the Chicago native, who has served as a missionary in Peru for many years, stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Leo spoke again on Friday morning when he celebrated his first Mass as Pope.
Pope Leo gave his first sermon to the cardinals who had elected him the day before. He was wearing a white robe with a gold border and a tall white miter, and he was clutching a gold crucifix. He spoke in his native English as well as Latin and Italian.
Leo saw his appointment as Pope as both a blessing and a cross, and he and the cardinals had a duty to propagate Christianity in a society that occasionally makes fun of religion.
“I know I can count on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel,” the new Bishop of Rome said in English. “You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission.”
In addition to praising the late Pope Francis for his predecessor’s missionary commitment as a leader, he cautioned against “practical atheism” among Christians who view Jesus as more of a “charismatic leader” than the Savior.
Pope Leo XIV concluded his homily by quoting St. Ignatius of Antioch, who said, “Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body.” He chose to emphasize humility in the leadership of the Vatican and in the clergy.
Cardinals must “move aside so that Christ may remain,” and they should make themselves “small so that he may be known,” according to Leo, who claimed that this adage may be applied to Church leadership. The reminder of the value of humility is in line with what Pope Francis, his predecessor, taught.
Even though it was Leo’s first service as pope, only the 132 cardinals who chose him to be pope were there. Leo will celebrate with a larger crowd at his inaugural mass on May 18.