Statement of Bishop Douglas J. Lucia on the election of Pope Leo XIV

“Habemus papam” – “We have a pope!” I join Catholics throughout the world in welcoming Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Successor of St. Peter. Along with Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, our Bishop-emeritus, and the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Syracuse, I assure the new Universal Pastor and Bishop of Rome of our best wishes and prayers as he assumes the role of Vicar of Christ on earth.
 
Significantly, he is the first American Pope, hailing from Chicago, Illinois.  Yet, he has served the Universal Church as a parish priest in his native city, as a pastor and Bishop in the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, South America, and as the Prior General of the Augustinians (the Canons of St. Augustine) headquartered in Rome.  In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops and made him a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church.
 
In listening to his first message to “the City and the World,” I was struck by his immediate proclamation of the Easter gospel, “Peace be with all of you” and his call for that peace to be found in our hearts, our homes, and our world.  He invited also all hearing his words to continue the Church’s mission of welcoming and sharing the love of Christ with all who come to us. This echoes his episcopal motto of, “In the one Christ we are one.”
 
Let us now pray for our new Pope that he may be for the Church “a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion.”  A Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of the new Pope will be held on Friday, May 9th at 12 Noon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse.  Clergy and faithful are invited to join Bishop Lucia and Bishop Cunningham for this time of prayer and thanksgiving

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