In his first address as the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV called for unity, peace, and a deepened sense of faith, declaring, “the world needs His light,” in reference to Jesus Christ.
Standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, delivered his inaugural message to the world, invoking the memory of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday.
Emphasizing dialogue, inclusivity, and bridge-building, Pope Leo XIV outlined the foundational themes of his papacy, urging the global Church to move forward in faith and solidarity.
“Let us hold in our hearts the faint yet powerful voice of Pope Francis, who once blessed the city of Rome. The Pope who, on that Easter morning, extended his blessing not only to Rome but to the entire world,” he said.
“Allow me now to continue that blessing: God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, and united, hand in hand with God and with one another, let us move forward together.”
The Pope reminded the faithful of their shared mission as followers of Christ, “We are the disciples of Christ, and Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to God and His boundless love.
Let us work together to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, that we may become one people, living always in peace.”
In a heartfelt tribute, Pope Leo XIV thanked his predecessor and acknowledged the trust placed in him by his fellow cardinals.
“I thank Pope Francis deeply. I also wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to my brother Cardinals who have chosen me to be the successor of Peter, to walk with you as one united Church, always seeking peace and justice, and working with all men and women who faithfully follow Jesus Christ, without fear, proclaiming the Gospel and being true missionaries of hope.”
Identifying himself as a spiritual son of Saint Augustine, he reflected on the humility of his new role, “I am a son of Saint Augustine, and I recall his words: ‘With you, I am a Christian; for you, I am a bishop.’ In that spirit, may we all journey together to the home that God has prepared for us.”
He issued a special message to the universal Church, urging it to become a beacon of love, charity, and welcome.
“To the Church, I offer a special greeting. We must strive to be a missionary Church, one that builds bridges, one that embraces dialogue, and one that welcomes all with open arms. Let our presence be one of charity and communion, rooted in love.”
Switching briefly to Spanish, Pope Leo XIV addressed his former diocese, “I also wish to greet you in Spanish, especially my beloved brothers and sisters in my former diocese in Peru—a faithful people who walked with me, shared their faith with me, and helped to build a devoted and vibrant Church.”
Finally, he turned his message to the faithful around the globe, calling for a united journey, “To all the faithful in Rome, throughout Italy, and across the world: we must be a synodal Church, a Church that walks together, that seeks peace, charity and draws near to those who suffer.”
