Moved and smiling, Robert Francis Prevost He was elected Pope on May 8 and adopted the name of Leo XIV. In an unprecedented gesture, he broke with the tradition of his predecessors by heading to the faithful from the Vatican balcony.
With voice broken by emotion, he dedicated a special message to Spanish speakers, in particular to the Peruvian community, with which he maintains a deep spiritual link forged during his pastoral mission in that country.
The American Leo XIV He became the first pontiff to pronounce part of his inaugural speech in Spanish, a language that, although not his mother tongue, dominates fluently from his work in Peru, where he also obtained nationality.
His arrival at the Vatican marks the second Pope of the American continent in leading the Catholic Church, after Francisco. His intervention represented a milestone for the Holy See, where traditionally the first words of the pontiffs are pronounced in Italian and Latin, said the Argentine chain 3 portal.
And if they also allow me a word, greetings to all those … in particular to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, the Supreme Pontiff expressed by remembering with gratitude to the people who accompanied him on his way to the papacy.
Among the cries of the crowd and the emotion of Hispanics present in the Plaza de San Pedro, Pope Leo XIV thanked that “faithful people” who accompanied him, who shared his faith and who, he said, keeps his trust in the Church and Jesus Christ alive.
Unlike his predecessor, Pope Francis, who followed the Vatican Standard by pronouncing his first speech in Italian and Latin, Leo XIV also opted to speak in Spanish, a gesture that marked a new closeness with millions of Hispanic faithful worldwide.
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Pope Leo XIV directs his first speech
Minutes after the Dominique Mamberti protodiacone pronounced the expected Habemus PapamPope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro to offer his first blessing Urbi et Orbi To the world, who between screams and applause hoped to meet the new church leader.
Peace is with all of you! Pope Leo XIV started in Italian language. “Dear Brothers and Sisters! This is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd, who has given life for the flock of God.”
“I also want this peace of peace to reach their hearts and reach their families and all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace is with you!” He continued, in the midst of emotion, the Pope.
“This is the peace of the risen Christ: an unarmed peace, a disarming, humble and persevering peace, which comes from God, of God who loves us all unconditionally,” he said as the first part of his speech.
Remember Pope Francis.
In his first speech, Pope Leo XIV loved his predecessor, Pope Francis, to refer: we still keep in our ears that weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis who blessed Rome.
Along with this, the Pope asked those present to continue with the legacy of the Argentine pontiff. “The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter Day morning. Let me give continuity to that same blessing: God loves us, God loves them all and evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God,” he added.
Ask for unity in your speech
In another of the phases of his first speech, Pope Leo XIV requested unity to the Catholic Church to the events that lurk to the world. “Therefore, without fear, united and hand with God and among us we go forward. Let us be disciples of Christ, Christ precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs Him as a bridge to be reached by God, by his love.”
“Help too you, to each other, to build bridges with the dialogue, with the encounter, joining us all to be a single town always in peace,” said the Pope.
Walk towards evangelization
Within his speech, he proclaimed the need for unity among church members and continue with the work of evangelization in every corner of the world.
“I would also like 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 proclaim the gospel, to be missionaries.”
He also proclaimed: “I am a son of St. Augustine, Agustino, who has said with you ‘I am a Christian and for you Bishop’, and in this sense we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared us.”
In his speech, he sent a direct message to the Church: “We must look for together how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges of dialogue, always open to receive, like this square, with open arms to all, to all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,” he said.
Prior to praying Ave Maria, the Pope concluded “to all of you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy and from around the world: we want to be a Synodal Church, a church that walks, a church that always seeks peace, always seeks charity, always seeks to be close, especially those who suffer.”