Dear Parishioners:

It took just 24 hours of conclave for the 133 cardinal electors to choose a successor to Pope Francis. From the Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome last Thursday, the French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, who is the Cardinal Protodeacon (the most senior Cardinal Deacon in the College of Cardinals), announced "Habemus Papam!"

The American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost was elected the 267th Pope in history, taking the name Leo XIV. He is the first American Pope! A historic day for our Church and a proud day for our nation.

Marked by his experience as a missionary, pastor, teacher, and Bishop in Latin America. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he served as the Prior General of the order. In 2023, he was appointed to the Vatican Curia.

Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Pope Leo XIV comes from a family of French, Italian, and Spanish descent. After studying mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University in Philadelphia, he entered the Augustinian novitiate in 1977, where he took his final vows four years later.

He was ordained a priest in 1982 in Rome, where he earned a doctorate in canon law from Angelicum University, operated by the Dominican Friars. While preparing his thesis, he also had his first missionary experience in Peru as chancellor of the diocese of Chulucanas and associate pastor of the cathedral.

In 2014, he was appointed a bishop by Pope Francis and returned to Peru. Initially, serving as the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Chiclayo, he became a diocesan Bishop in his own right in September 2015.

This diocese in northern Peru has 90 priests for a total population of 1.3 million, 83% of whom are Catholic. Pope Leo also served as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Callao, the large port on the Pacific coast, from 2020 to 2021.

Pope Francis made a Pastoral Visit to Peru in 2018. where he first met and got to know the then Bishop Prevost. In 2023, he was named prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis. This dicastery is responsible for selecting the world's bishops. He was created a cardinal that year.

Today, Sunday, May 18, Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Papal Inaugural Mass at St. Peter's Square. This Mass marks the Beginning of his Pontificate. It is celebrated before a large crowd, including many political and religious leaders from around the world. May 18 also marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of St. Pope John Paul II.

Pope Leo XIV's first words to the world and the Church were: "Peace be with all of you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God's flock. I, too, would like this greeting of Peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you!"

We rejoice for the Church at this historic event and unite our prayers for our Holy Father. We pledge our loyalty to the Vicar of Christ on Earth. An essential element of unity in and with the Church is unity with her head, the Roman Pontiff. St. Ambrose said: "Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia. (Where Peter is, there is the Church.)"

The Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, C. Ss.R., who is to be installed as the 10th Bishop of Providence on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

We also rejoice for the Diocese of Providence as our new Bishop, the Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., is installed as our tenth Bishop this week. His installation Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. It is open to the public and live-streamed on the Diocese of Providence website.

We are also called to unity with Bishop Lewandowski, who is our chief shepherd and a successor of the apostles. As the visible head of our local Church, the Bishop is our chief teacher, sanctifier, and governor. On becoming a Bishop, Saint Augustine said, "For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian. The former is a duty; the latter a grace."

Please pray for our new Holy Father and our new Bishop. We welcome Bishop Lewandowski to Providence and say, "Ad multos annos." May God bless Pope Leo XIV's pontificate. Viva il Papa!

Be well. Do Good. God Bless. Go Sox! See you at Devotions on Monday night as we offer our Rosary for our new Bishop on the eve of his installation.

Habeumus Papam & Welcome Bishop Lewandowski