Pope Leo XIV, chosen as the high pontiff of the Catholic Church on May 8, celebrated on May 18 the opening mass of his pontificate in the Plaza de San Pedro del Vaticano.
His homily was marked by a repeated call to unity.
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Next, we share 8 important messages and inspirators of the Mass that presided over May 18, Pope Leo XIV:
1. “Arriving with different personal stories and paths, (the cardinals) we have put in the hands of God the desire to choose the new successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome, a pastor capable of guarding the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, of looking beyond, to know how to face the questions, the concerns and the challenges of today.”
2. “I was chosen without having any merit and, with fear and trepidation, I come to you as a brother who wants to make a servant of your faith and joy, walking with you on the path of the love of God, who loves us all united in a single family.”
3. “Pedro’s ministry is marked precisely by this oblative love, because the Church of Rome presides in charity and its true authority is the charity of Christ. It is never about catching others with submission, with religious propaganda or with the means of power, but it is always treated and only love as Jesus did.”
4. “I would like this to be our first great desire: a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a ferment for a reconciled world.”
5. “We are called to offer God’s love to all, so that that unity that does not cancel the differences, but values the personal history of each one and the social and religious culture of each people.”
6. “Brothers, sisters, this is the time of love! The charity of God, which makes us brothers among us, is the heart of the gospel.”
7. “With the light and strength of the Holy Spirit, we build a church founded on the love of God and a sign of unity, a missionary church, which opens the arms to the world, which announces the word, which is questioned by history, and which becomes a ferment of Concord for humanity.”
David Ramos
Graduate in Communication Sciences by the Private University of the North in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working in ACI Press, I am based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered the trips of Pope Francis to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.