Remarks on the Election of Pope Leo XIV
At conclusion of Masses
10 & 11 May 2025

This Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly referred to as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because the Gospel comes from John 10, referring to sheep and to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Thus, it seems providential that the spot the Lord created in his Church for a visible chief shepherd on earth, who is his icon, would be filled just days ago such that on this Good Shepherd Sunday, we once again have that same guarantee of the shepherding of St. Peter, now provided through St. Peter’s successor Pope Leo XIV. In fact, just hours ago from the central balcony of St. Peter’s where he was leading the Regina Caeli, the Pope said, “I consider it a gift of God that the first Sunday of my service as Bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday.” We should be clear: Jesus is the Good Shepherd. But, he has also left visible expressions of his shepherding, most especially through the ordained ministry of bishops and priests. Peter is the Shepherd of Shepherds and his role is maintained in the succession of popes.

The greatest cause of our joy is Jesus Christ, his love for us, and the hope of eternal life he offers us. But, we have added joy in this time that the throne of St. Peter is no longer vacant. We are not like sheep without a shepherd. I think it is important to note that our joy in a papal election is first and simply over the fact that we have a pope. It is not a joy primarily based on which cardinal it is, or where he is from. If you watched the announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s election, the pattern of announcement is always the same, you know that before the name of the one elected is even said, and before his papal name is announced, the crowd in St. Peter’s Square and the crowd watching around the world erupts in wild cheers simply from the announcement: We have a pope! The chair is no longer vacant. The conclave is over. We have a Universal Pastor and a Holy Father. Thus, we are filled with immense joy quite before we even know the basic facts about the man or who he even is.

That being said, there is a shocked excitement for us in that the new Pope was born in the United States and is the first US citizen to become pope. For our parish too, there is some little additional connection in that our patronage of St. Monica and St. Augustine is something dear to the Holy Father given the roots of his religious order (the Order of St. Augustine). In fact, when he was first made a cardinal, then-Cardinal Prevost was given the honorary custody and care of a church in Rome named for St. Monica.

He needs our prayers. And I invite and ask you to focus on that. I suggest you pray much more than researching and investigating information and statements on the man before he was pope. In the modern age, we spend so much time, and spill so much ink, and frankly spill much figurative blood, in trying to identify the camp a person belongs to, and to defend our own. It becomes a convenient excuse for failing to make time for prayer while claiming “I am too busy.” So, if you are going to search out things about the new pope’s record and study up on him, I say, go ahead. But you should also assign yourself a daily Rosary for him as well.

If you watched live or heard live Pope Leo’s first Urbi et Orbi blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s when he first appeared after election, or if you otherwise knew he was blessing the world and you intended to receive that blessing, you might be interested to know that there is a plenary indulgence offered when the Pope gives such a blessing. The normal conditions for a plenary indulgence apply: sacramental absolution in confession within about 8 days, receiving a worthy Holy Communion, being detached from the desire for sin, and praying for the Pope’s intentions (by saying one Our Father and one Hail Mary).

This Thursday, May 15, a Mass in thanksgiving for the election of a pope will be said. The Mass will be here in the main church at 5:30 pm. and I invite you to attend.

Homilies