Jay Jackson
09 May 2025, 02:32 GMT+10
Pope Leo XIV, has spoken publicly for the first time since his election as Pope to succeed Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday.
Cardinal Robert Provost, 69, originally from Chicago, on Thursday became the first U.S. Pope in history.
He spoke from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Italian, with a brief passage in Spanish.
"Peace be with all of you!"
"Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!" Pope Leo said.
"This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed Rome!"
"The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning," the newly-elected Pope said.
"Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward."
"We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love," Pope Leo said.
"Help us too, then help each other to build bridges - with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!"
"I also want to thank all the fellow cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice - always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries," the Pope said.
"I am a son of Saint Augustine, (an) Augustinian, who said: "With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop." In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us."
"To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges (and) dialogue, always open to receive (people), like this square, with open arms - everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love," the new pontiff said.
In Spanish: "And if you allow me also, a word, a greeting to all those, and particularly to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ."
"To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer."
"Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to stay close, to help us with her intercession and her love," Pope Leo said.
"So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother."
Get a daily dose of Scotland Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Scotland Star.
More InformationKATHMANDU, Nepal: Using xenon gas treatment and new technology is making climbing Mount Everest faster and better for the environment...
Brussels [Belgium], June 4 (ANI): An all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad,...
London [UK], June 4 (ANI): India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, has said that there is great sympathy...
London [UK], June 3 (ANI): The all-party delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, departed from London to India on Tuesday after...
London [UK], June 3 (ANI): Branding Pakistan as a 'failed state', UK MP Bob Blackman on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at India's...
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 3 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday announced to name the Pachmarhi...
JERUSALEM (CNN) - Palestinians on their way to receive aid from a distribution site in southern Gaza have come under fire for a third...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Tensions reignite in the U.S.-China trade truce after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of violating a recent...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Facing a deepening financial crisis, the United Nations Secretariat is planning to cut 20 percent of its US$3.7...
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: More than 4 billion people worldwide endured at least one extra month of extreme heat between May 2024 and May...
GAZA - At least 32 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on crowds waiting for food at...
SEOUL, South Korea: On May 30, South Korea's leading left-wing presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, said he wants to change the Constitution...