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The Beginning of a New Papacy
In the secrecy of the Sistine Chapel, when it was clear that Cardinal Prevost had a 2/3 majority, he will have been asked: Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff? As soon as he said the words, I accept, he immediately became pope, without any need for any ceremony or rite to confer the full, immediate, and universal authority of the Successor of St Peter and Vicar of Christ over the whole Church, according to the deliberate
will of Christ. The answer to the second question he was asked, By what name do you wish to be known? we all now know, following the famous declaration on the Balcony of St Peter’s, our new pope chose the name Leo.

Previous Popes Leo
There have been fourteen popes in the history of the Church called Leo. The last, Leo XIII., was elected pope in 1878 and reigned until his death in 1903. Leo XIII. was a pope who anticipated and codified what we might now call Catholic Social Teaching, and is especially remembered for his support for the rights of working people and the dignity of human labour. Leo XIII. also wrote the famous prayer to St Michael the Archangel, recited - by his
instruction - at the end of Low Mass until 1969.

Nationality of the Pope
It is somewhat astonishing that the election of the first South American pope is followed by the election of the first North American pope – our new Holy Father was born in Chicago, Illinois!

The Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry
Since the brief 33-day reign of Pope John Paul I., the three popes who have followed (John Paul II, Benedict XVI., Francis I.) have all declined to receive the traditional Papal Coronation, electing to have an entirely newly -created ceremony following an innovation of John Paul I. One of the symbols of the papacy then, the papal triple crown, sometimes called the papal tiara has fallen into disuse, though it is still emblazoned on the various heraldic seals, flags, and Arms of both the Holy See and the Arms of popes themselves. Pope Leo XIV will likely follow this recent precedent and choose a Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry, in which he will receive the woollen pallium a garment worn around the neck, signifying the union of archbishops around the
world with the Bishop of Rome - who is the Head of the College of Bishops - and the pope will receive the Ring of the Fisherman his personal ring for his Pontificate, inscribed with his chosen papal name and corresponding
numeral. The date for this Inauguration Mass to be announced by the Holy See. I will try and see if I can get to Rome for it, though it might be expensive and impossible with my diary!

New Cardinals, New Bishops
With the death of Pope Francis I. on Monday 21 April the governance of the universal Church was put into suspension, pending the election of a new Bishop of Rome and Successor of St Peter. Only the pope has the power to appoint or, in some cases, confirm the election of, bishops and archbishops. It is also the prerogative of the pope to appoint cardinals. The responsibilities of the governance of the Church immediately fall on our new Holy Father; we must be sure to pray for him every day.

The First Apostolic Journey
If my memory serves me correctly, recent tradition (since 1929 and the Lateran Treaty) would suggest the first papal voyage will take the pope to meet the President of the Italian Republic at the Quirinale Palace in Rome. The pope may wish to visit his home city of Chicago! Pope Francis made 47 apostolic visits in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI. made 24, and Pope John Paul II. made 104!

Please pray for our new pope, Leo XIV.