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I’m in the US at the moment, a few day’s break after a retreat, and I’m surrounded by celebrating Americans.
Pope Leo XVI, while born in Chicago, has spent most of his life in Peru and Italy and those who know him add that he’s really not very American – more someone from a remote diocese in Peru and is a Peruvian citizen.
While in Aotearoa we felt connected with Pope Francis because he was the first pope from our (southern) Hemisphere. And already we feel a connection with our new pope since he grew up speaking and thinking in our language.
I thought you might like to hear him speak in English in this brief clip from just six months ago – speaking on the role of a bishop.
He sounds like a very humble and caring man, a reflection of Pope Francis!
I am overjoyed.
Inspiring from what he said and an indication of how he will lead his flock.
The Holy Spirit has gifted us a new voice for our time. Glory be to the Father Son and Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning and is now!
Praise be to God.
He is Augustinian and we Pray he will help unity to grow in the Church and in the world. We were not expecting him to be elected and we are overjoyed.
Sr. M. Elena osa
The Holy Spirit has gifted us a new voice for our time. Glory be to the Father Son and Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning and is now!
I cannot help but feel disheartened at the church electing an American pope right now given all the atrocities the US is funding and inflicting on the world and its own people. For once can the church be on the right side of history!
His light is on! – He has intelligent and kind eyes.
Thanks be to God. We must all pray daily for him that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit
I am overwhelmed with Gratitude . I feel he will follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis.
Congratulations Everyone who selected. And the Holy Spirit will continue to govern to his people.
Deo Gratias!!! Thanks for the audio of english!! He will be great whatever language he speaks because whatever he says in the future will come from the language of the Holy Spirit!!! Yay!!!!!
I am drawing Hope from the fact that he was a rank outsider, sitting out in the margins and the Holy Spirit has led the cardinals to get him across the line as a new world leader for our time. Deo Gratias.
Papa Reone XIV Tekau mā Whā (Cardinal Robert Prevost – Katinara Rōpata Prevost) has been elected as our new Pope, Pope Leo XlV.
Let us join with all the faithful in praying for the outpouring of the Wairua Tapu Holy Spirit on our new pope, te Hunga Whakapono the Faithful, te Hunga Rawakore the Poor, te manaaki i te mana me te tapu o te Hunga Wāhine me te Hunga Takatāpuhi the sacred mana of Women and LGBTQ+ communities me te hunga kua tūkinotia e te Hāhi and those who have been harmed by the Church, oti noa tātou.
He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua i runga rawa, he maungārongo ki te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa.
Honour and glory to God in the highest, peace upon the earth, goodwill to all peoples.
Cardinal John Dewe e mihi atu ana mō āu whakamārama me ngā karakia e honohono nei i a tātou i ngā rangi kua hori ake nei.
Thank you to Cardinal John Dewe for being there for us, your explanations and encouragement to offer daily prayer which has unified us in these recent days.
As tangata whenua I was 34 before l became familiar with the Mass in English (l was always multi lingual). The nuances in te reo Māori are quite different from the English Mass and l feel more at home speaking in our native tongue to Aotearoa New Zealand. I hope to meet Papa Leo one day and pray he has the courage to look beyond cannon law and continue to elevate our mother’s, aunties and sisters in the church and hold our Takatāpuhi community in aroha and respect as Papa Werahiko did. ❤️
Our son Leo turned 15 on May 8th. We had joked in the family about the possibility of a Pope being elected on Leo’s birthday: “Imagine if the Pope is elected on your birthday and he chooses the name Leo!” Chortle chortle.
I awoke at 5:30am roughly and was bemoaning that fact quietly when the phone beside my bed lit up with a Radio New Zealand update. When I read that a new Pope had been elected I was overjoyed!
An hour or so later I woke Leo and shared the news with him. What a special moment. He was disbelieving at first but delighted. He jumped up and ran to the TV to watch the latest from Rome. My prayer is that both Leos will walk with God each day.
What a wonderful memory for him to carry for the rest of his life. May God bless him bountifully and may Pope Leo’s service to his people inspire your son and strengthen his faith.
He’s on to it – Jesus and the people. We couldn’t ask for a better shepherd. And as Auckland’s Bishop Steve has pointed out today, Sunday’s Gospel is a slice of the Good Shepherd. Love these ‘coincidences’ the Holy Spirit drops on us! God bless our Holy Father.
Thanks be to God for our new Pope. i am however disheartened that the media have only been able to convey the election in very venal ways; being an American, being a seasoned administrator, being a social conservative. etc. Even some church commentators have fallen into this. As Catholic Christian’s shouldn’t we emphasize the sacred and the spiritual and above all the holiness of this process carried out in faith an humility, and not seek to define or explain it by the mores of this world . it would be nice if the election of the Pope could be a time when the things that distinguish the divine and the haman are made more aware not less so.
Thanks for sharing the sound clip of our new ‘love and service’ focused Pope… I’m feeling relieved and hope filled
How appropriate also, to see the fitting quote from todays First reading from Acts:
‘This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before the pagans’
Amen!
Thank you so much for sharing this recording with us Father John. I’ve been praying for the Holy Spirit to work miracles and give us a new Pope following on from Pope Francis, continuing his love and care for all people. Pope Leo sounds very humble.
The Media are quite amazed at Leo XIV ‘s election! Particularly as regards his humility, intelligence, linguistic ability. However as our Catholic understanding goes, the Holy Spirit had a big part to play in his election!