Robert Prevost He was chosen as the new Pope of the Catholic Church this Thursday, May 8 and will be called XIV lion. In his first words before the Plaza San Pedro, the new Pontiff sent a message to his predecessor Franciscowho died on April 21.
From the central balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro, the new Pope remembered Jorge Bergoglio: “We still keep that weak voice in our ears, but always brave of Pope Francis that blessed Rome “
“The Pope who blessed Rome and gave his blessing to the entire world that Easter Day morning. Let me give continuity to that same blessing that God loves us very much, God loves us all. The evil will not prevail, ”he added in a message that gives the impression of continuity in the Catholic Church.
And he continued: “We are all in the hands of God, therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among us we go forward. Let’s be disciples of Christ, he precedes us. The world needs its light, humanity needs it as the bridge to be achieved by its love”.
“Thanks to Pope Francis,” he completed Prevost In his speech before speaking in Spanish: “And if they also allow me a word, greetings … to all those, in particular, to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru“.
In his first speech as Pope, he asked the faithful to be followers of Christ, “evil will not prevail”, he also released a “call to peace” to “all peoples” in his first words.
Leo XIV asked people for help to “build bridges of peace” with the aim of also seeking justice and invited to do it without fear from the balcony of the Plaza de San Pedro.
-“God loves us all unconditionally”he stressed.
The cardinal Robert Prevostwho worked in the last time in the dicas supplies for bishops, has shared with deep admiration his relationship with the Papa Franciscohighlighting the generosity and authenticity that they have always characterized.
The relationship between the two was forged over the years. This began when Bergoglio was a archbishop of Buenos Aires and Premost was a general prior of the Augustinians. At this time, they shared both informal and institutional moments, which allowed the brand new pontiff to know in depth the personal and spiritual qualities of the Argentine.
Throughout his meetings, the American highlighted several aspects that impressed him with his predecessor, including, His dedication to living the gospel with coherence and authenticity, his proximity to the poor and his firm desire for a church that walks with the most needy. These qualities were reflected in the gestures and teachings of the Pontiff, which sought to convey, not only with words, but with actions, love and Christian mercy.
As a cardinal, Prevost also witnessed the moments in which Francisco put this principle of closeness into practice, as in his trip to Peru, where he showed a particular concern for the welfare of the people and its ecclesial leaders.
In 2013, when Bergoglio assumed as Francisco, the now XIV lion He had the opportunity to meet him at the inaugural Mass of the Pontificate in the Vatican, a moment that marked the beginning of a series of regular meetings between them. During these meetings, Prevost appreciated the dedication of the Supreme Pontiff to Church affairs, as well as its tireless sense of humor, a characteristic that Francisco did not hesitate to transmit in each conversation.
Premost has also witnessed Francisco’s continuous dedication to his ministry, even in the most difficult moments of his health. A clear example of this was his visit to the Regina Coeli prison in Rome, an act that marked the Holy Week of 2023. Despite his health problems, Francisco continued to fulfill his pastoral mission, making clear his desire to continue serving the Church until the last of his days.
