Election of Pope Leon
“Peace be with you all!
Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!
It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”
The Catholic Church has entered a new chapter in her journey with the election of Pope Leo XIV. Succeeding Pope Francis—whose pontificate has left a deep mark on our times through his witness of mercy, ecological conversion and missionary outreach—the new Holy Father already inspires prayer, attention and a quiet hope.
For us, Sisters of the Cenacle, this moment resonates with our core vocation: to make Jesus Christ known and loved in the heart of today’s world. The name Leo evokes quiet strength, rooted courage, and also memory: that of Leo XIII, a Pope of wisdom and dialogue, who championed the dignity of the poor in Rerum Novarum.
In a world marked by social, ecological and spiritual wounds, we remain attentive to what Pope Leo XIV will offer as guidance for living and witnessing the Gospel. His first Urbi et Orbi blessing, marked by its simplicity, echoed our own prayer: that the Church may remain humble, close to the people, and a peacemaker in today’s fractured world.
As we approach the bicentenary of our foundation, with the theme “Of Clay and Gold”—inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which honours brokenness restored—we sense a shared calling. The Petrine ministry, like our mission, carries the vulnerability of faith held in trust, and the hope that grows through encounter and relationship.
Across our communities in the UK and beyond, in our apostolic work and in our journeys with young people, we will carry Pope Leo XIV in prayer. May he be sustained by the Holy Spirit, enlightened by the Word, and supported by a living Church faithful to the call of her Lord.
You can also read : Prima Benedizione “Urbi et Orbi” del Santo Padre Leone