Pope Leo XIV delivered his first speech to the faithful from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro this Thursday, May 8, an hour after his choice as Francisco’s successor.
This is the text of his speech, pronounced mostly in Italian with one fragment in Spanish:
(In Italian) “Peace is with all of you, dear brothers and sisters. This is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God.
I would also like this peace greeting to enter our hearts, to reach your families, all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. May peace be with you.
It is the peace of the risen Christ, a unarmed peace, and a disarming, humble and persevering peace comes from God, God who loves us all, unconditionally.
We still have that faint, always brave voice in our ears, of Pope Francis blessing to Rome. The Pope blessing Rome gave his blessing to the world, the entire world, that Easter morning.
Let me continue with this same blessing. God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God.
Therefore, without fear, united, giving hand to God and giving us among us, let’s move on. We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us.
The world needs its light. Humanity needs him as a bridge to God and his love.
Help us too, and let’s help each other, to build bridges through dialogue, the encounter, joining us all to be a single town, always in peace.
Thank you, Pope Francis.
I also want to thank all my cardinal brothers who have chosen me to be Peter’s successor and walk with you as a united Church, always looking for peace and justice, always seeking to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to announce the gospel, to be missionaries.
I am a son of St. Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: “With you I am a Christian and for you bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together towards that country for which God has prepared us.
I particularly greet the Church of Rome. We must look together how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, which dialogues, always open to host, like this square, with open arms, to all those who need our charity, presence, dialogue and love.
(in Spanish) and if they also allow me, a word, greeting to all those and in particular to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied his bishop, has shared his faith and has given so much, both to continue being a faithful church of Jesus Christ.
(In Italian) to all of you, brothers and sisters, from Rome, from Italy, from all over the world, we want to be a sinodal church, a church that walks, a church that always seeks peace, which always seeks charity, which always seeks to be close, especially those who suffer.
Today is the day of plea to Our Lady of Pompeya, our Mother Maria, who always wants to walk with us, be close to us, help us with his intercession and love.
So I would like to pray with you, let’s pray together for this new mission, but also throughout the Church, for peace in the world, and we ask for this special grace to Mary, our mother.
God save you, Mary, you are full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed you are among all the women and blessed is the fruit of your belly, Jesus. Santa Maria, Madre de Dios, pray for us sinners, now and at the time of our death. Amen.