Viva Il Papa Conclusion

by Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.  |  05/25/2025  |  Weekly Reflection

Beloved Parishioners,

Last week I shared a reflection on our new Pontiff Pope Leo XIV and today I share the concluding part of that reflection. The election of Pope Leo XIV, born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, on the 8th of May, and his choice of papal name carry deliberate echoes of Pope Leo XIII. While addressing the cardinals at the General Assembly, Pope Leo XIV affirmed thus:

“I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”

Additionally, May 8th, which is the very day of his election, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel. The Feast of St. Michael’s Apparition recalls a moment in the 5th century when the Archangel is said to have appeared to a bishop near Monte Gargano, offering heavenly protection for the region. This moment also draws a powerful connection to another papal figure of history— Pope Leo XIII. In 1884, after celebrating Mass in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIII reportedly collapsed into a trance-like state. Upon awakening, he described a terrifying vision of Satan being given more power to attack the Church for a period of time. Deeply shaken, he composed the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, a spiritual shield for the Church. This is the prayer we recite in our parish at the end of every Mass. You see, his choice of “Leo” is not merely an homage, but a declaration of spiritual intent. By invoking the name “Leo,” the new Pope aligns himself with a legacy of spiritual watchfulness, defense of truth, and pastoral wisdom. Pope Leo XIII defended the Church against modernism and offered teachings on social justice and the dignity of labor. Now, our own Pope Leo XIV takes that torch in a modern world hungry for theological clarity, compassion, and conviction.

Furthermore, we can’t just feign ignorance to another of Pope Leo XIV’s notable gestures that clearly signal a return to traditional practices and aesthetics within the Catholic Church. In his first public appearance on the Vatican balcony, he wore a bright red shoulder cape (pellegrina), a gold-embroidered stole featuring the four gospels, and a golden cross. The Pellegrina and ornate stole are deeply rooted in papal tradition, and it symbolizes the pope’s roles and the Church’s teachings. Thus, this points out a distinct return to the traditions of Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. This choice of more elaborate and formal vestments is seen as a symbolic gesture to restore certain traditional elements within the Church. Experts in non-verbal communication have interpreted this as a desire by Leo XIV to re-emphasize the ceremonial and symbolic aspects of the papacy that had been downplayed in recent years. He further prayed the rosary, an indication of his strong Marian spirituality and devotion.

Pope Leo XIV now stands before the world with the Archangel Michael at his side, the prayers of his papal predecessor behind him, and the eyes of heaven upon him. May his papacy be one of renewal, protection, and truth. As we say again today with joy: Viva il Papa! Long live Pope Leo XIV! God bless each of you and your families, my beloved parishioners.