Just before 6.20pm on Thursday the 8^th of May, it was announced that Cardinal Robert Prevost had been elected as the 266^th Successor of Saint Peter.

He will be taking the name ‘Pope Leo XIV’

He is the first pope from North America and the first pope who is a member of the Augustinian religious order.

Pope Leo speaks many languages – English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese – and he can also read Latin and German.

He was born in Chicago but has spent many years living in Peru as a missionary.

He has chosen the name Leo. The last pope with this name was Pope Leo XIII, over one hundred years ago, whose work was the basis for Catholic Social Teaching.

On the balcony, Pope Leo’s first words were ‘Peace be with all of you’, echoing the words Jesus spoke to his disciples when he appeared to them after his Resurrection.

Pope Leo said, ‘We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.’

We pray that Pope Leo may lead the Church with wisdom and compassion and be a sign of God’s love and mercy for all. That he will have the courage to speak the message of the Gospel, bringing hope to those who need it most, and that he will bring unity where there is division and peace where there is conflict. 

Amen