Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first homily as the new leader of the Catholic Church, emphasizing the need for missionary outreach in areas where Christians face opposition or are merely tolerated. Addressing cardinals during a Mass in the Sistine Chapel, he highlighted the challenges faced by Christians in environments that prioritize technology, money, success, power, or pleasure over faith.

"There are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd," Pope Leo stated. He stressed that these are places where "missionary outreach is most desperately needed." He referred to teachings from Pope Francis about bearing witness to faith and emphasized his role as a "faithful administrator" of the church.

Pope Leo's election marks several firsts: he is the first U.S. citizen, first Peruvian citizen, and first Augustinian friar to become pope. Notably, he wore black shoes instead of traditional red ones and carried Pope Benedict XIV’s papal ferula into the chapel. The Mass readings were presented in English and Spanish, reflecting his diverse background.

In his homily delivered in Italian, Pope Leo spoke about being a beacon for those facing dark times not through grand structures but through holiness. Reflecting on Jesus' question to Peter in St. Matthew’s Gospel — “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” — he noted contrasting views on Jesus’ significance.

He acknowledged that some see Jesus as insignificant or irksome due to his moral demands while others view him as an upright man with courage. He warned against reducing Jesus to just a charismatic leader among both nonbelievers and baptized Christians who might live in "practical atheism."

The pope concluded by emphasizing commitment to making Christ known and glorified above all else. His initial days included greeting cardinals who elected him and engaging with residents at his former Vatican residence.

###