Pope Leo XIV is the 267th Supreme Pontiff and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

A biography of the Holy Father can be found here.

In his initial address, the Pope said: “Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”

For the full address, please click here.

 

54506572074 4640326cdb o

Bishop Philip's Statement

Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Philip, the Bishop of Portsmouth, released a statement.

54506655423 c6117a7344 k

“What joyful news! On behalf of all the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Portsmouth, I am absolutely delighted to welcome our new holy father, Pope Leo XIV. We are profoundly grateful to God for the gift of this great and holy man to the Church to lead us as 267th Successor of St. Peter. This is a moment of great joy and hope for all of us in our Diocese, in England and Wales, and indeed across the world. We pray for him and express to him our deep loyalty and fidelity.

The appointment of any new Pope is a momentous occasion in the 2000-year history of our Church and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first US Pope, is similarly historic.

 

 

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, is the former head of the Augustinian order. At the age of 27 he was sent by the Order to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum). He received priestly ordination on 19 June 1982. He received his licentiate in 1984 and was then sent to work in the mission of Chulucanas, in Piura, Peru (1985-1986). On 30 January 2023 Pope Francis appointed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He was created and proclaimed cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 30 September 2023.

As he addressed the world from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV’s first words were: ‘Peace be with you.’
May the Holy Spirit inspire Pope Leo with all the spiritual gifts needed for the work of new evangelisation and grant him the personal health and strength for the challenges ahead. God bless our Pope!

 

54506571874 6cd5d5fe94 k

Mary Immaculate – pray for him
St. Peter – pray for him
St. Edmund of Abingdon – pray for him ”

A copy of this statement is available here.

Images:© Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Donate