The First "Urbi et Orbi" Blessing of His Holiness Pope Leone XIV, 08.05.2025
White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8 at 6:09 PM Rome time, signaling the College of Cardinals had chosen a new pope. One of the 133 cardinals in the Vatican Conclave since the day before, May 7, was elected as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vicar of Christ.
Cardinal Mamberti appeared on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and proclaimed: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Robertum Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Prevost, qui sibi nomen imposuit Leonem Decimum Quartum." Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., the 69-year-old American Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, taking the name Leo XIV.
His Holiness Pope Leone XIV, preceded by the Cross, appeared at the external Loggia of the Vatican Basilica to greet the people and impart the Apostolic Blessing "Urbi et Orbi." Here is the full text of the Address (plinthos translation).
(In Italian)
Peace be with you all!
Dear 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, reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all nations, all the earth. Peace be with you!
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, who loves us all unconditionally.
We still keep in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, on that Easter morning, the day of Easter. Allow me to follow up with that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all. Evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with each other, we move forward! We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love. Help us, you too, and then one another, to build bridges, through dialogue, through encounter, uniting all to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also want to thank all my fellow Cardinals who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church, always seeking peace, justice, always striving 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 Christian, and for you, I am bishop." In this sense, we can all walk together toward that homeland which God has prepared for us.
A special greeting to the Church of Rome! We should seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, a Church of dialogue, always open to receive, like this square with open arms to all, to all those in need of our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.
(In Spanish)
And if you allow me also a word to all those, in particular to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, shared its faith, and has given so much, so much, to continue being the faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of all the world: we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, that always seeks peace, always seeks charity, always seeks to be near, especially to those who suffer.
Today on the day of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love. Now 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 ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother: Hail Mary...
[Solemn Blessing]
Peace be with you all!
Dear 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, reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all nations, all the earth. Peace be with you!
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, who loves us all unconditionally.
We still keep in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, on that Easter morning, the day of Easter. Allow me to follow up with that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all. Evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with each other, we move forward! We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love. Help us, you too, and then one another, to build bridges, through dialogue, through encounter, uniting all to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!
I also want to thank all my fellow Cardinals who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church, always seeking peace, justice, always striving 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 Christian, and for you, I am bishop." In this sense, we can all walk together toward that homeland which God has prepared for us.
A special greeting to the Church of Rome! We should seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, a Church of dialogue, always open to receive, like this square with open arms to all, to all those in need of our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.
(In Spanish)
And if you allow me also a word to all those, in particular to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people has accompanied its bishop, shared its faith, and has given so much, so much, to continue being the faithful Church of Jesus Christ.
To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of all the world: we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, that always seeks peace, always seeks charity, always seeks to be near, especially to those who suffer.
Today on the day of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love. Now 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 ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother: Hail Mary...
[Solemn Blessing]
Below is today's Mass of the new Pope: Missa pro Ecclesia.
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