Pope Leo XIV delivered his first public remarks since taking over as leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He urged the world to seek peace and remember those who suffer. The following is a full transcript of his speech.
Peace be with you all!
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who laid down his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all peoples, the whole earth. Peace be with you!
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarmed peace and a disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, the God who loves us all unconditionally. We still hold in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome! The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that morning of Easter Sunday.
Allow me to follow up on that 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 each other, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us too, then each other, to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always at peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also want to thank all my brother cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always trying 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, for you I am a bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together toward that homeland that God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms.
Everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.
And if you allow me also, a word, a greeting to all those and in a particular way to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, has shared its faith and has given so much, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks together, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always tries to be close especially to those who suffer.
Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be near, to help us with her intercession and her love.
So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask this special grace from Mary, our Mother.
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