A historic chapter opened in the Catholic Church on Thursday as Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever pontiff from the United States, greeted the world with a powerful and simple message: “Peace be with you all.”
The 69-year-old, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, stepped onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica just minutes after the ancient declaration “Habemus Papam!” rang out from the loggia, announcing his election. White smoke from the Sistine Chapel had signaled the moment the cardinals reached a decision — the world’s 267th pope had been chosen.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the sea of faithful in Italian, drawing cheers from the hundreds of thousands who filled St. Peter’s Square and surrounding streets. “Peace be with you all,” he said, echoing the first words of the risen Christ. “I would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, reaching your families, and all people, wherever they are.”
The new pope described this peace as “disarming, humble, and persevering,” rooted in a God who “loves us all unconditionally.” In a heartfelt tribute, he remembered Pope Francis, who passed away just hours after blessing Rome on Easter Sunday, pledging to follow in his footsteps.
“God loves us… and evil will not prevail,” Leo declared. “Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us go forward.”
Leo XIV called on the global Church to be a bridge-building force — one of dialogue, justice, and missionary courage. Embracing his roots in the Augustinian order, he quoted St. Augustine: “With you I am a Christian; for you I am a bishop.”
In a touching moment of multilingual outreach, the pope spoke briefly in Spanish to greet the people of Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop until his Vatican appointment in 2023.
He concluded by inviting the crowd to join him in a Hail Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Pompei, asking for prayers for his new mission — and for peace throughout the world.
As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, his first words set a tone of humility, unity, and spiritual boldness — a shepherd ready to lead a Church searching for healing and hope.
