At the beginning of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV held a powerful and grand mass in St. Peter’s Square for thousands of people from many nations. While taking part in this placet, he was given two strong symbols of papal authority: the white-and-gold Palio and the ring known as the Fisherman’s Ring. They showed how leadership passed on and ushered in a new phase for the Church.
Leo XIV succeeds with great public excitement and anticipation for his guidance. A number of individuals are monitoring to see how he will resonate with those who valued Pope Francis for being humble, receptive to reform and open to people on the edge of society.
Under Francis’s leadership, the papacy embraced more warmth and openness and many faithful are asking if Leo XIV will do the same. It is still early to understand his leadership goals, though his first acts reveal a wish to keep the legacy going and focus on building personal relationships.
One of the most important things about Pope Leo XIV’s rise is that he is the only second Pope from the American continent. Demonstrating his warmth toward Latin America which shaped much of his history and calling, Leo launched his ministry in America just days after being born in Chicago.
When he was first elected as Pope, he chose to address people everywhere using Spanish, paying a special tribute through his words to the people of Chiclayo, Peru. By thanking the Peruvian community, the pope shared his respect and loyalty to Latin American Catholic beliefs and values.
It was in 1985 that the Pope first came to Peru and began a mission that continued for years. That first meeting set him on a path that shifted the way he thought, worked and saw the Church’s part in helping communities struggling with poverty, injustice and religion.
He frequently talks about these years positively, mentioning how the people he led taught him with humility and kindness. During a recent talk, he remembered how back in 1995, he had been told that he would become the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
I never heard him describe this in detail, but by saying that, he implied that he had felt called—perhaps guided by God—to the special role he held in Church leadership.
At the start of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy, ceremonies, symbols and sentiments were as important as any official act. Even though tradition marks his beginnings, Manny’s stories often show deep human connections that join people all over the globe.
With this new beginning, interest grows in seeing how Pope Francis, who has a Latin American heart and a global sense, will show the Church’s path ahead.
