Message of Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore on the election of Pope Leo XIV
Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit continues to surprise, challenge and inspire us to live the Gospel of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We give thanks for the election of Pope Leo XIV.
It is indeed surprising that a North American has been chosen to be our spiritual leader and yet it’s inspiring as Pope Leo XIV served as a missionary priest in South America. We give thanks for the continuity with and his stated appreciation of Pope Francis who called each of us to be ‘missionary disciples’ (Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel).
The choice of Pope Leo XIV by the Holy Spirit challenges all of us to continue to seek justice for those suffering the effects of the gap between rich and poor in our world, the impact of climate change and the consequences of violence and war. We pray with Pope Leo XIV as he takes up the challenge to bring social justice to the fore in our world. No doubt he will be inspired by his chosen namesake Pope Leo XIII, the father of the social teaching of the Catholic Church. It too is a point of continuity with Pope Francis who gave expression to our social teaching in Laudato Si’ on Care for our Common Home and Fratelli Tutti on the value of fraternity in ensuring justice and peace.
It is inspiring and a source of joy that Pope Leo XIV has affirmed the ongoing synodal process in the Church, our journeying together in conversations of faith. It ensures, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a continuing greater role for all the People of God in the pastoral outreach and in the governance of the Church.
It is inspiring that Pope Leo XIV is of the Augustinian Congregation which was founded in the spirit of St Augustine who though struggled with sin converted to Christianity aided by the prayers of his mother, St Monica. In a world searching for meaning, we pray that Pope Leo XIV may continue to be inspired by the words of St Augustine in his Confession, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You”
It is inspiring that the first words of Pope Leo XIV to the world recall the Easter greeting of Jesus to his disciples, “Peace be with you!” In our world beset with over 130-armed conflicts, Pope Leo XIV declared, “I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth that we would have peace from the heart”. The demeanour of Pope Leo XIV, as he was revealed to the world on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, exuded an inner peace and offers hope.
Therefore, we give thanks for a mathematician, a canon lawyer, a religious missionary priest, a bishop of the global south, and a cardinal familiar with the workings of the Church in Rome who will now lead the Catholic Church throughout the world. We offer our prayers for his pastoral leadership, spiritual guidance in engaging with the world and in building bridges with all the peoples of the world.
Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit continues to surprise, challenge and inspire us to live the Gospel of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
+ Martin Hayes
Bishop of Kilmore
