We have a Pope! The election of Pope Leo XIV brings joy to the Catholic Church throughout the world.

And it proves, once again, that God is the God of surprises! 

Pope Leo XIV begins his ministry supported by the prayers of Christians and with much good will from people all over the world. 

The last Pope Leo, Leo XIII died in 1903. He was a remarkable man and he lived to the remarkable age of 93. There is a short piece of film of Pope Leo XIII on YouTube, restored and colourized, showing the elderly – but sprightly – Pope Leo smiling and blessing. 

Leo XIII (Giuseppe Pecci) was born in 1810 – he was five years old when Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo – and yet he lived to be filmed and he was responsible for laying the foundations of more than a century of Catholic social teaching with his influential encyclical letter Rerum Novarum. This encyclical letter earned Pope Leo XIII the title ‘the Pope of the Workers’

Leo XIII was an important figure for the Franciscan Order also. Under his guidance many separate groups of Franciscan friars, living all over the world, were brought together into the Order of Friars Minor in 1897. This great amalgamation of diverse Franciscans into one single Order is known as the Leonine Union. 

Pope Leo showed his concern for the Franciscan family by revising the Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis in 1884. Pope Leo was born in the Italian town of Carpineto, 60km from Rome. Carpineto had been home to a much-loved Franciscan Saint, Charles of Sezze, back in the 17th century. Pope Leo XIII presided over the beatification of this humble friar in 1881. 

So, Franciscans have affection for Pope Leo XIII and are glad to see his name and his memory honoured in our new Pope.

Pope Leo XIV began his pontificate by repeating the Easter greeting of Jesus Christ: Peace be with you! His first Sunday as Pope is Good Shepherd Sunday. May God bless and inspire Pope Leo XIV and make him an instrument of God’s peace in the world. May the joy of these days inspire us all to new endeavours in the faith and to a renewed sense of mission. 

May the Good Shepherd who calls all of the baptized to be His witnesses inspire men and women to follow joyfully the Gospel way of life, after the example of St. Francis and St Clare. Please keep this intention in your prayers this week.

May the Lord give you peace!

Liam Kelly OFM

If you are interested in the Franciscan way of life please contact:
Friar Liam Kelly OFM
Phone:  087 396 0262 
Email: irishfranciscansofm@gmail.com 
Postal address: Franciscan Friary, Ennis, Co Clare.