The world is watching every word and move of the new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost. I say formerly because, as with Christ telling Simon Bar-Jonah, “you are Petras [Peter], and on this rock I will build my Church,” Robert Francis Prevost has been forever changed. He will now always be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Of course, he is also now heir to the Chair of St. Peter. Jesus Christ’s relationship with Peter is one of the most fascinating themes of the New Testament. Peter at one point tells Christ that he will defend him anywhere and at any time, even if everyone else deserts him. He is shocked when Jesus disappointingly replies that Peter that very night will deny him — not once or twice but three times, and amid Christ’s worst moment of abandonment: his path to Calvary.
But with the sadness of the crucifixion comes the hope and joy of the Resurrection, and thus another major moment in the interaction between Christ and Peter. And that next encounter speaks to the first words out of the mouth of the newly chosen heir to St. Peter, Pope Leo XIV, from the Loggia this past Thursday, May 8, 2025.
With the crucifixion of Christ, the Apostles had fled and were hiding in fear. The man they had viewed as their Lord had been ignominiously executed. Surely, they were next. Jesus had told them and anyone who wanted to follow him that doing so meant a willingness to carry their own cross. Well, that appeared to be a likely scenario, soon. But then came the most incredible turn of events. John’s Gospel puts it this way:
“On the evening of that first day of the week [after the crucifixion], when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”
This group of Jews, led by a Jewish fisherman named Simon Peter, certainly feared not all Jews (Jesus was a Jew, as was his mother), but rather the religious officials who had sought Christ’s crucifixion. That was one component of their fear. But they were also filled with fear because a dead man had just walked into their room through a locked door. Have you ever seen a ghost? I’m sure it would be rather alarming. Of course, this ghost was actually a physical person, who had once foretold that he would be crucified, would die, but would rise again. Now, here he was in the flesh.
“When he [Jesus] said this,” John’s Gospel continues, “he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”
He showed them the marks of his crucifixion, a dead-ringer sign that this really was Jesus among them. With this amazing news, says John’s Gospel, the disciples rejoiced. Here was nothing less than life after death, brought up from the depths of despair.
And yet, there was probably still fear at that moment of jubilation, especially from Peter, who Jesus had last saw publicly denying him. Would Christ now rebuke Peter in front his closest followers? Not at all. John’s Gospel records Jesus’ next words, which were the same as his first: “Peace be with you.”
That brings me back to Pope Leo XIV and his first words to his flock from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. He told them in Italian, “Pace sia con tutti voi.” Translation: “Peace be with you all.” He followed: “Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!”
Like Jesus, Leo XIV twice repeated the greeting, “Peace be with you.” In fact, in his opening statement, he echoed the word “peace” 10 times.
The theological significance of those words was profound, not only because of Christ’s words, but as a departure from Pope Francis. Francis spoke constantly of mercy and peace, but during his 12-year papacy, there was chaos and confusion. There was a highly unsettling lack of peace. Surely the new pope was offering a hopeful contrast of something better. (READ MORE from Paul Kengor: The Death of Pope Francis.)
Immediately, the new pope showed signs of stability, order, of quelling the chaos, donning the traditional red mozzetta and white cassock that Francis had ditched 12 years prior. When Francis stepped onto the Loggia on March 13, 2013, he had a deer-in-the-headlights look, appearing nervous, lacking confidence, like a man unsure what to say. His first mumbled words were, “Fratelli e sorelle, buonasera!” Translation: “Brothers and sisters, good evening.” I find it fascinating in retrospect that the word “peace” was never uttered once by Francis in his opening statement.
By contrast, Leo XIV in May 2025 looked remarkably prepared, confident yet still humble, surely likewise nervous, but composed. He had thought carefully about what to say. His message: “peace be with you all.”
For many of us, that was a reassuring statement after the “catastrophe” (the apt words of Cardinal George Pell) of the Francis papacy. There was much anxiety when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost stepped out on the Loggia, doubly so as his name was announced to an ecstatic St. Peter’s audience that went dead silent at the announcement of this unknown American cardinal whose diocese was in Peru. Was the chaos and confusion continuing?
Pope Leo XIV hopefully was telling us that things will be better. He prayed for peace in the world and for “a Church that always seeks peace,” internally as well as externally.
He wished us all peace. My hope and prayer is that we’ll get that from Pope Leo XIV, the former Robert Francis Prevost.
READ MORE from Paul Kengor:
Pope Francis Brings Together Trump and Zelensky
WATCH/LISTEN:
The Weekend Spectator Ep. 37: A Catholic and a Protestant on the Pope