Did You Know?

In his first year of shepherding the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, he has certainly fulfilled his role as “Pontifex Maximus” – which means “Supreme Bridge-Builder” – for the world! While many ‘talking heads’ in social media and the news industry analyze, predict, propose and dissect Pope Leo from their various perspectives, it is helpful to remember that for Catholics, it is a matter of faith to believe, to trust, that the Holy Spirit is the true “Elector” of Peter’s Successors. Before the Papal Conclave which elected Pope Benedict, one of the Cardinal-Electors was asked by an (American) newscaster, ‘Who the ‘front runners’ were in the coming election’. The Cardinal gently corrected the reporter, saying that it was not an ‘election’ as is usually understood. He said, “God has already chosen Peter’s Successor. It is up to us, the College of Cardinals, to pray until we are clear as to whom God has already chosen.” It is helpful to consider the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote of Peter’s Successors: “We have grown accustomed to making a distinction between ‘Peter the Rock’ and ‘Peter the Denier of Christ’: that is, Peter as he was before Easter (‘Peter the Denier’) and as he was after Pentecost (‘Peter the Rock’), the Peter of whom we have constructed a singularly idealistic image. But he was in reality at both times both of these. . .Has it not been thus throughout the history of the Church that the Pope, the successor of Peter, has been at the same time ‘petra’ and ‘skandalon’ – both the ‘Rock’ and a ‘stumbling block’? In fact, the Faithful will always have to reckon with this paradox of Divine choosing that shames pride again and again.” If we believe that Christ chose Simon Peter, with all of his weaknesses and his stumblings, his intense faith and his courageous following, to lead his fellow apostles then we believe that God has likewise chosen, through the college of Cardinals guided by the Holy Spirit, Pope Leo XIV for us, the Church. Pope Leo XIV, who was a Missionary Bishop in a poor, rural Diocese in Peru before he was called to head the Dicastery (Office) of Bishops in Rome, said: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive. . .with open arms. Everyone, everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.” Please pray for our Pope!