One Year With Pope Leo XIV
In a world living in the shadow of war, Pope Leo XIV visits a Marian shrine and gives a message of peace. One year into his pontificate, our Holy Father has demonstrated that he is unafraid to preach the Gospel. May 8, 2025: Where were you when you heard about Pope Leo XIV’s election? I was participating in meetings all day. We extended our lunch when we heard about the white smoke. I was overcome with excitement at the news that a new Pope had been elected. Like many, I was surprised to hear that Cardinal Prevost, head of the Dicastery for Bishops, had been elected Pope. I was firmly convinced that we would never have an American Pope.
Pope Leo has proved from day one that his papacy would not be characterized simply by being American. I appreciate the fact that he spoke Spanish and Italian at the start, later sliding into English as appropriate with his audience. More than the son of one political reality, he is a true son of the Church, as we should all strive to be.
By choosing the name Leo, he evokes Pope Leo XIII, the author of the seminal papal document Rerum Novarum. Pope Leo XIII responded to the reality of the Industrial Revolution, especially attentive to the dangers posed by Communism. Pope Leo XIV leads the Church as Vicar of Christ at a time when the world is undergoing a technological revolution accelerated by artificial intelligence. We are still waiting for the first encyclical of his pontificate, but I would guess that he will address this issue, among others.
Rather than entering into a debate with modernity or condemning technology, he has made sure to call out to its creators and developers to respect the humanity of all of us. In spite of some apocalyptic predictions, Pope Leo takes a more nuanced approach, making sure to call for protection of human dignity and warning priests not to become dependent on such tools to create their homilies. As a good father, he knows we can all be tempted to choose the easy road.
Early on in his papacy, people would ask me if I was happy that an American had been elected Pope. I’m just glad he is a fellow baseball fan.
He has consistently called for peace, as we would expect the Pope to do. He shows a quiet courage. He does not project the need to put himself in front of the cameras, but he is unafraid to be the voice of morality and goodness in a world tempted to be lured by power and the illusion of power. While war may appear to offer immediate solutions, he invites us to go deeper and find more long-lasting and secure solutions.
At the end of the day, Pope Leo is a disciple of Christ and a missionary to the nations. Like every Christian, he is called to listen to the words of Jesus and see how to apply them to his own life. As a pastor, he tries to interpret the words of the Gospel in ways that allow his flock to hear Christ’s voice in their own minds and hearts. As a missionary, from his days working in Peru, he reaches out to the lost and tries to help them find the way.
On this anniversary of his pontificate, he has visited the beautiful Marian shrine in Pompeii, Italy. Near the volcano Vesuvius that destroyed the town in the year 79 A.D., the shrine gives witness to the enduring presence of God and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary in the world. It is a fitting pilgrimage for the man who is called to lead the Church in a time where the world seems about to explode because of violence, greed, and selfishness. On this visit, he recommends praying, even “celebrating” the rosary to bring more charity in the world. It will lead us to live charity towards God and towards our neighbor.
In a world marked by anxiety, conflict, and division, Pope Leo reminds us that peace begins in conversion, prayer, and charity. May we join together in thanking God for the gift of our Holy Father and entrust him to the loving intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary.