This has certainly been an exciting – and, indeed, historic – time for the Universal Church as 132 cardinals from 70 countries around the world recently met in the Sistine Chapel to elect our next pope. And, after just four ballots, so many of us watched excitedly as white smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel just after noon on 8 May. I don’t know about you, but I certainly did not expect an American to be elected – the first pope from the United States of America and the first pope to be selected from the Order of St. Augustine. The Holy Spirit was truly at work during the Conclave! As we read in Sacred Scriptures, the Spirit “blows where it wills!” And, so we have welcomed Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.
Although we call him our pope his official title is Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop of and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God. Each title speaks of the important role that the pope plays. He is the successor to St. Peter, who, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Rome. As Vicar of Jesus Christ, he stands as the visible presence of Jesus Christ here on earth. As such, he is the Successor to St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. The word “pontiff” derives from the Latin word “pontifex” which means “bridge-builder.” Jesus Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth. As the Vicar of Christ, the pope continues to build this bridge down through the ages. There are many bishops in Italy but the pope is the primate, that is, the first among those bishops. On a more local level, as the Bishop of Rome, the pope is the Metropolitan of the Roman province (just as Archbishop Pérez, as the bishop of Philadelphia, is the Metropolitan of the Pennsylvania province). The Vatican City is a separate City State surrounded by Rome and the pope is the Sovereign of that City State. The final papal title, “Servant of the Servants of God,” derives from Matthew 20:26-27, where we read, “whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be the first among you shall be your slave.” You will notice that “pope” is not among his official titles. The word “pope” dates back to sometime before 900AD and was used in the early Church to speak of any bishop. It derives from an Old English word, “papa,” which means father and is used as the title of the Coptic and Orthodox patriarchs of Alexandria.
Pope Leo XIV’s background has prepared him well for this immensely demanding new role in the Church. As you have probably already learned, he was born in 1955 in Chicago and received his Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He also earned a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1984.
Pope Leo XIV, who was ordained a priest for the Order of St. Augustine in 1982, served in various roles – as a parish priest, pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator in Chicago and Peru – until he became the Prior General of the Augustinian Order 2001. In 2014, he was ordained a bishop and sent back to Peru as Apostolic Administrator and then bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo. In 2023, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals and appointed Prefect of the Dicastry for Bishops as well as President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. These two positions made him a familiar figure to the cardinal electors and, as we have seen, a quick choice as our 267th pope. His vast experience in various roles in the Church will serve him well as he begins to serve the Universal Church. Let us join in prayer that Pope Leo XIV may have the strength and wisdom to guide the Church – which means all of us – ever more faithfully according to God’s plans so that God’s kingdom may come!