By Bishop Alberto Rojas
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we receive with great joy the news of the election of our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV.
We trust in the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit in giving us our new shepherd. Let us unite in prayer for him as he begins his journey in leadership of our Mother Church.
Pope Leo XIV brings to our Church many blessings and important perspectives. As Americans, we can celebrate him as the first U.S.-born Pope in the history of our Church. I had the blessing of meeting him several times during my years of ministry in Chicago, his hometown. I found him to be a humble and approachable man of God. Like his predecessor, Pope Francis, he also carries a strong connection to Latin America and the Hispanic world because his pastoral ministry as a bishop took place in Peru.
We remember the last Pope Leo as a champion of Catholic social doctrine and so our new pope’s choice of name suggests that he will call us to a greater embracing of Catholic Social Teaching, and our responsibility to care for the poor and marginalized. Our world cries out for a leader who guides us to stand up for the dignity of every human life.
We are in the midst of a Jubilee Year, when we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. Let us carry that spirit in our receiving of Pope Leo XIV. We will allow him the time to unfold his leadership style and points of emphasis for us without quick judgements or speculations. We will use our Synodal practice of listening and discernment as he speaks to us. And we will continue to pray for him each time we gather at the table of the Lord to celebrate the Eucharist, and in our private prayers.
The Lord Jesus calls us to be attentive to the present moment, neither dwelling on the past nor worrying about the future. In this moment of leadership transition, let us remember this as we experience the joy of a new beginning and trust in the path that God lays for us.
Thank you and may God bless you.