“God always gives us the right person at the right time,” Bishop Edward Malesic told those who gathered for the noon Mass on May 16 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The Mass, which was livestreamed, was offered in thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo XIV, whose inauguration was celebrated in Rome last Sunday, May 18.
“We gather as a diocese in union with me, who’s in union with Pope Leo XIV, to give thanks to God for giving us the successor of St. Peter, a person who wears the shoes of the fisherman and is an American-born pope,” the bishop said as he opened the liturgy.
He admitted he was surprised the newly elected pope was American born, “but nothing is impossible for God. The selection of a pope is a response to the movement of the Holy Spirit,” the bishop said. “It was God who selected this pope and all others before him. As one cardinal said, the election of the new pope was a spiritual experience.”
Bishop Malesic said as the weeks, months and years pass, we will gain a greater understanding of the new pope and why he selected the name Leo. He noted that Pope Leo XIII, who shepherded the Church 1878-1903, was one of the longest-tenured pontiffs.
“He championed the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution and was foundational in the development of the social teaching of the Church. He was a bridge between the Church and the emerging modern world of the late 1800s. Pontiff means bridge. We pray that Pope Leo XIV, like Pope Leo XIII, will be able to build bridges that connect the Church to the world, what we do in here to what we do out there, from faith to everyday life – a bridge between this world and heaven,” the bishop said.
He noted that Pope Leo XIV already talks about eternal salvation with ease, pointing out that Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth.
“The new pope is known to be calm and reflective, clear in his thinking. He is a canon lawyer – like me. We share something in common,” the bishop quipped. “He is humble with a great concern for the poor, just as Jesus had and as all of us should have. His role as our universal shepherd is to guard and proclaim the Gospel. His first words when he began his public role were ‘Peace be with you,’ echoing the first words of Jesus after his Resurrection. Death was destroyed and eternal life is now possible for those who follow Christ.”
That is why the Resurrection is the primary doctrine of our faith, along with Peter’s proclamation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the bishop said.
“Pope Leo will use this as the basis for all he will teach during his pontificate. He is also asked to unite us as one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We’re catholic because we hold the same beliefs, share the same sacraments and are under the guidance and leadership of one pope. We pledge our allegiance, support and prayers for Pope Leo. He is the sign of our unity in the Lord,” he added.
In the day’s Gospel, the bishop said Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter grew frustrated as he repeatedly said ‘yes.’ Jesus told him to feed and tend his sheep.
“The cardinal electors chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the pope, but he didn’t become pope until he said he accepted. At that moment, he also said with all his being that the Lord knew he loved him and he would tend and feed the Lord’s sheep – all of us.
“May the love of Pope Leo for Jesus, who called him to what is both a blessing and a cross, inspire us to answer the call of Jesus to wherever he wants to take us as a Church. We will move forward in faith until we reach our heavenly homeland, the kingdom of God – heaven. Let us pray every day for Pope Leo in his new role -- which is both difficult and impossible -- except with God, for with God, all things are possible,” Bishop Malesic said. “May God be his strength and may the Holy Spirit be his inspiration. Long live Leo XIV and may God grant eternal rest to his predecessor., Pope Francis.”
The Mass of thanksgiving can be viewed on demand here.