On leaving the conclave, a French cardinal said to one of our Oblate confreres, a servant member of the cardinals, that he had seen and strongly felt the “presence” and invisible action of the Spirit. It was the Spirit, and the Spirit alone, who had guided the choice of the new bishop of Rome and the new shepherd of the universal Church. The conclave was therefore highly spiritual. Here are the words spoken by this man, humble and peaceful, excellent mediator between extremes of every kind, and chosen by Jesus to be Peter’s successor.
“Peace be with you all!
Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all peoples, all the earth. Peace be with you!
It’s the peace of the Risen Christ, a peace that’s disarming and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God, from God who loves us all unconditionally. We still hear in our ears that faint, but ever courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome!
The Pope blessing Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world, this Easter morning. Allow me to continue this same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with one another, let us go forward. We are Christ’s disciples. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs Him as a bridge to God and His love. Help one another to build bridges, through dialogue, through encounters, all united to be one people always at peace. Thank you Pope Francis!
I would also like to thank all my brother cardinals who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you as a united Church, always seeking peace and justice, always seeking to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.
I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: “With you, I am a Christian, and for you, a bishop“. In this sense, we can all walk together towards the homeland that God has prepared for us.
A special greeting to the Church of Rome! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, that dialogues, always open to receive, like this square, with open arms, all those who need our charity, our presence, our dialogue and our love.
To all of you, brothers and sisters from Rome, Italy and all over the world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.
Today is the day of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close to us, to help us with her intercession and love.
So I’d like to pray with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.
The Pope’s greeting concluded with the Ave Maria prayer, the Urbi et Orbi blessing and the granting of a plenary indulgence.
