Pope Leon XIV – Inauguration of the pontificate in the Vatican

On Sunday, the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV is inaugurated. During his homily, he said that he was chosen “without any merits”. He also stated that he wanted the United Church to become a “leaven of the reconcilled world”, unity, communion and brotherhood.

During the mass inaugurating the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the ritual of obedience to the new head of the Church took place. 12 representatives of all states of God from different parts of the world participated in a symbolic act.

Three cardinals took part in this rite: Frank Leo from Canada, Jaime Spengler with Brazil and John Ribat from Papua-Nowa Guinea.

In addition, there were a bishop, priest and deacon and chairwoman of the International Union of General Superior Venezuelawhich heads the union of superiors of general male orders. There were also a couple of spouses and two youth representatives.

“With fear and trembling I come to you as a brother”

Homilia during the mass at Saint Peter's Square began as follows: “I greet you all – with a heart filled with gratitude – at the beginning of the service that was entrusted to me.” – In recent days we have experienced a particularly intense time. Death Pope Francis She filled our hearts with sadness, and in these difficult hours we felt like these crowds, about which the Gospel says that they were “like sheep that had no shepherd” – he reminded.

Speaking of the conclave Leon XIV, he emphasized: “Arriving with different luggage of history and various paths, we put in the hands of God to choose the new successor of Piotr, the bishop of Rome – a shepherd who would be able to guard the rich heritage of Christian faith, and at the same time able to look further, to look at questions, anxieties and challenges of our time.”

– I was chosen without any merits. With fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who wants to become a servant of your faith and your joy, following the path of God's love, who wants us to be united in one family. Love and unity – here are two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus – said Leon XIV.

He noted that Piotr and other disciples of Jesus received from him the task to “throw the hope of the Gospel in the water of the world; to sail in the sea of ​​life so that everyone could find themselves in the arms of God.”

“In our time we still see too much disagreement”

Leon XIV emphasized: “Peter's service is marked with sacrificial love, because the Roman Church presided over in love, and his true power is the love of Christ.” – It is never about gaining others through dominance, religious propaganda or with the help of power tools, but it is always about love as Jesus did – he added.

The Pope said that Piotr as a student and successor to Jesus is to “fall a sheepfold, never succumbing to temptation to become a lonely leader or leader riding above others, who is made by the Lord of entrusted people.” “On the contrary,” he is required to serve the brothers, walking with them, “he explained.

– I would like, brothers and sisters to be our first great desire: the United Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes the leaven of the reconciliation world – said Leon XIV.

He then noted: “In our time we still see too much disagreement, too many wounds inflicted by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of others, by an economic paradigm, which explores the resources of the earth and marginalizes the poorest.” “And we want to be,” he added, “a small leaven of unity, communion, brotherhood.” We want to tell the world with humility and joy: Look at Christ! Come down to him! he added.