The former secretary of Pope Leo XIV when he was a bishop of Chiclayo (Peru), P. Jasson Sempertigue, appreciates “a substantial change” after his choice, linked to the full awareness of his mission as the successor of St. Peter.
In a brief interview with the Spanish newspaper ABCFr. Sempertigue, who received the presbyteral order from the then Bishop Francis Prevost in 2015 and his secretary between 2016 and 2019, shares his impressions about the start of the pontificate.
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In his opinion, “since his choice as Pope, a substantial change has been operated in him” that becomes evident in his name change: “It is no longer Robert Prevost, now it is Pope Leo XIV, he is Pedro.”
When we meet him in Rome, he acknowledges, “I have the full awareness of greeting Peter” and, at the same time, “in the person of the Pope I see a father who I know and knows me. I could say that everything has changed, but, at the same time, everything is identical.”
From the characteristics of the pontiff they remain, he emphasizes: “It is always the same: humble, friendly, always in a good mood, prudent; the father and friend whom I have been lucky enough to serve for some time.”
From his pastoral performance in Chiclayo, Fr. Sempertigue emphasizes that he took “very seriously the grazing of his beloved diocese. He consulted, discerned, prayed, decided. I think he did all things.”
Of the first 100 days of pontificate, the Peruvian priest stands out from Leo XIV “how well he is seen before the cameras, how comfortable he feels before thousands and thousands of people and the ease with which he connects with everyone”, not only thanks to his polyglot capacity, but also “for the way of transmitting: the looks, the gestures, the greetings, the jokes”.
In particular, the priest is especially happy to “listen to him singing in the liturgy and in the prayer of the angelus” and see “with great vitality.”
On the other hand, Fr. Sempertigue considers that the new pontiff “tries to answer everything well as the call that God has made.”
“I consider that he is aware that he is ‘vicar’ of Christ, and that he is responsible for listening and obeying the Lord. I see him aware of this. I personally feel that all the time he is trying to listen to Christ to act obeying his holy will,” he concludes.
Nicolás de Cárdenas
Born in 1980, I am a Spanish and journalist’s husband and father with more than 20 years of experience in print and digital media, specialized in socio -political and religious information. I have worked more than 10 years in defense of human rights and I have accreditations in journalism and comprehensive communication. Since July 2022, I am a correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News in Spain, covering international events of the Catholic Church.