Pope Leo X1V

A new Pope was heralded in recent days, announced firstly by the plume of awaited white smoke and then by declaration from the balcony in St Peter Square. The announcement was awaited by all worldwide, Catholics and people of other faiths and no faiths. Our new Pontiff chose the name Leo. Pope Leo XIII lived at the end of the 19th century into the 20th. He died in 1903. He was progressive in his thinking and alert to the gifts and challenges of industrialisation. Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Rerum Novarum which was concerned about social justice with particular regard to the rights of workers, the right of people to own their own property and enterprises. Both socialism and capitalism were at large at that time and were strongly opposed by Pope Leo as being contrary to Gospel values.

The background of Pope Leo XVI mirrors the values of Pope Leo XIII in terms of having a strong voice against Marxist values in Peru, speaking for the rights of workers with no fear of the leaders of the day. His feet were on the ground with those whom he served as an Augustinian priest. His feet were on the ground with his confreres internationally in his service as Superior General of the Augustinian Orders. As Superior General he would have travelled to most, if not all, of the places of mission and ministry in 47 countries providing him with a wonderful international bird's eye view of the church in action.

What has Pope Leo XIV said in these early days? In his address to his brother cardinals, he declared that he wished to continue the journey of the Second Vatican Council, unfolded evermore by Pope Francis with dialogue and discernment opening new chapters through lived faith experience and ongoing reflection. He is alert to the new stage of industrial influence in artificial intelligence, and as with Pope Leo XIII in his time, requiring that the dignity of the person and justice regarding labour never be disregarded in the striving towards capitalist endeavours.

Pope Leo speaks of the church as the womb from which we were born and the field with which we are charged to give care so that fruits may grow from sowing the seed of the Gospel values and living the sacramental life together. The word which I heard and read most frequently, so far, is TOGETHER!

Every single person matters in the community of the church and in the community of the world. Leave one person behind and the integrity of all is questionable. This screams in a world where we watch many suffer each day and see capitalism gaining ground like never before.
We have a leader with relevant vision, so let us move forward TOGETHER in mission!

Cathy Burke
Catechist in the Lucan Partnership of Parishes