The US born Pope Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to intensify the efforts to fight the growing “lack of faith” during his first homily as Pontiff on Friday 9th, after becoming the first American to lead 2,000 years.
“In today’s world, it is not easy to preach the gospel and testify to his truth, where believers are ridiculed, despised, despised or at best tolerated and tightened,” warned the new Pope standing at the altar of the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo’s last judgment. He added, “Yet for this reason, these are places where our missionary reach is desperate.”
Leo, speaking in Italian and dressed in a white papal robe lined with gold, said the collected cardinals: “The lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, neglecting mercy, dining of human dignity violations, family crisis and so many other wounds.”
First American Pope elected
Chicago born Robert Francis Prestost, 69, was elected 267. The Pope Conclave of Cardinals in the Vatican Sistine Chapel on Thursday (May 8), followed by the Argentine Pope Francis. His elections surprised many.
Warning of dilution of Jesus’ image
Pope Leo also warned of the restriction of Jesus to a “kind of charismatic leader or superman”, a message that seemed to deal with certain tribes in evangelical Christianity. “This is true not only among the unbelievers, but also among many christened Christians who eventually live on this level in a state of practical atheism,” he said.
Highlighting social wounds
The former missionary lamented that modern society often rejects faith as “absurd, intended for weak and non -intelligent” and warned against its consequences. “The lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, neglecting mercy, frightening violations of human dignity, family crisis and so many other wounds that affect our society,” he said.
Appeal to unity
In the unexpiched preambuli in English, Leo addressed the collected cardinals: “I know I can rely on each of you to come with me,” he emphasized the need for unity in the Church.
Global reaction
The Vatican gave pictures of Leo’s first moments as the Pope and showed him the prayer and receiving congratulations from colleagues Cardinals. Tens of thousands of St. Peter’s Square gathered to witness his debut.
In Peru Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera appreciated the previous work of the new Pope and said, “He showed his closeness and simplicity with people … a good missionary.”
Requires peace and dialogue
On Thursday, at his first crowd, Leo repeated the emphasis of Pope Francis in peace and dialogue. “Help us and each other to build bridges through dialogue, through meetings, connected as one people, always in peace,” he urged.
(Tagstotranslate) Pope Leo XIV
