From the Desk of  Deacon Dave, O.F.S.

 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

 May our Risen Lord grant you His peace!

 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” -Matthew 16:18
 
“Habemus Papam!”
What a wonderful moment to be Catholic! I am sure each of us will remember exactly where we were and what we were doing the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, 2025 when we got the news that the Conclave of Cardinals had just elected the 266^th Successor of St. Peter the Apostle as the Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Universal Catholic Church. Following the tradition of visiting the Room of Tears and the Papal dressing, our newly elected Pope was announced on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: Pope Leo XIV. The new Pope delivered his first address and then bestowed his first Apostolic Blessing, Urbi et Orbi (“to the City and to the World”), to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and those watching globally. 
 
Some background on Pope Leo XIV
The following material is adapted from The Catholic Company’s daily e-message “Get Fed: Bite-Sized Faith” series for Friday, May 9, 2025. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago to a family of Italian, French, and Spanish heritage. His early life was marked by a deep commitment to faith and service. He joined the Order of St. Augustine (the Augustinians, an Order of mendicant friars established in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV) in 1977, professing solemn vows in 1981. His academic pursuits led him to earn a degree in mathematics from Villanova University, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and both licentiate and doctoral degrees in canon law from the Pontifical University (known in Latin as The Angelicum) of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

 In 1985, Father Prevost embarked on a missionary journey to Peru, serving in Chulucanas and later in Trujillo. His roles included parish vicar, seminary rector, and canon law professor, reflecting a blend of pastoral care and scholarly engagement. His leadership qualities were recognized globally when he was elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order in 2001, a position he held until 2013. 
 
Pope Francis appointed him as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, and later brought him to Rome in 2023 to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. His elevation to cardinal in September 2023 further solidified his standing within the Church hierarchy.
 
Pope Leo XIV’s focus on the Eucharist
Pope Leo XIV is known for his humility and approachability. But most importantly, Pope Leo XIV is known for his Eucharistic devotion, a trait that has marked both his pastoral ministry and his theological emphasis. His years as a missionary, seminary rector, and bishop were shaped by a reverence for the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. In a time when the world is often distracted by noise and novelty, his example in this way draws us back to the very heart of our Catholic faith: the Eucharist. The Church does not simply believe in the Eucharist — she lives from it. As Pope Leo XIV steps into the Chair of Peter, we are all reminded that the source and summit of our faith is not a program or policy, but a Person — Jesus Christ, our Risen and Glorified Lord truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

The name of Leo
It has been speculated that the choice of the papal name “Leo” signifies the strong leadership and doctrinal clarity of the other Pope Leos who have preceded him in the Petrine ministry. In 452 A.D. Pope St. Leo the Great famously met with Attila the Hun outside of Rome and successfully urged him not to invade Italy at that time. The name in Latin means “Lion” which, of course, spiritually refers to strength of faith. 
 
Pope Leo XIII, who served as pope from 1878-1903, was the first pope to be filmed and truly embraced technology, and perhaps this is one of the aspects that Pope Leo XIV will also embrace. Apparently, he is also an avid tennis player and those who knew him in Chicago warmly called him Fr. Bob.

 So let us be fervent in our prayer for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his pastoral service to the Church as the Vicar of Christ on earth and the successor of St. Peter. The pope is the visible sign of our unity in faith and the guardian of the Deposit of Faith entrusted by the Lord to His Apostles and their successors the bishops. We can be sure that our new Holy Father, a pastor and an academician, will teach the Faith with charity and clarity.   

 With a brother’s love in the Lord and Mary Immaculate,

 Deacon Dave, O.F.S.
T    In Persona Christi Servi