Mass for the election of Pope Leo XIV

Bishop Scott Bullock
Mass for the Election of Pope Leo XIV
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City 
May 8, 2025

“Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam; Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Robertum Franciscum Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem Prevost, qui sibi nomen imposuit Leonum Decimum quartum.”

Translated: “I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope! The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Robert Francis, cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost, who has imposed on himself the name of Leo XIV.”

We, the people of the Diocese of Rapid City join the Catholic world and many others receive this announcement of great joy, and we add the joy that the Holy Spirit has chosen one from among us, born and raised near Chicago, who now leads the Universal Church. 

“La pace sia con tutti voi!” The first words that came out of the new pope’s mouth on the loggia of St. Peter’s. “Peace be with you.” 

Then he continued, “This was the first greeting of the risen Lord.” So the first words of the new pope, from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where he was revealed to us as Pope Leo XIV were the same first words as the risen Lord. He continued with words of encouragement, our new holy father, reminding us that, in all things, the Lord goes before us and brings to the world what we most need — His light—the light of His peace. Consider where in the world peace is absent: among the nations, among communities, within our own community, within our own Church, within our families, and within our hearts. 

What gives rise to this lack of peace? No peace is often described by the idiom, “A divided heart.” With Pope Leo XIV’s first words, also the first of the Risen Christ, the Holy Father was reminding us that it is in Christ that we find unity when we’re often divided. It’s in Christ where we find that peace, a peace that only he can give. His own episcopal motto speaks of this truth: In illo uno unum (In the one Christ, we are one). United to him is the source of eternal peace. When we are not united to him — conflict, war, division, but with hearts with him, no longer divided, the peace only he can give. 

The scripture readings that we heard today, designated for this rare occasion of the election of a new pope, speak of finding peace in the love of Christ. St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks of the structuring of the church, through its various ministries, with the effect that “that we are no longer infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning and interests of deceitful scheming. Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ.” 

When the world and this culture makes false promises and tosses us to-and-fro, the one Body of Christ, under the leadership of the Successor of Peter, helps to lead us to Christ who calms the waves and the winds and directs us to the truth of the love of Christ, for which the world is starving. And by his first words to us as pope, Pope Leo is directing us to Christ whose love alone can bring us totally satisfying peace.

“La pace sia con tutti voi!” Peace be with you. The first greeting of the risen Lord. The first words of our new Holy Father, and also, of course, the greeting of the priest presider, and sometimes the bishop, at the beginning of the Mass, where we find communion with Christ. Let’s come and draw close to the Prince of Peace on this day of joy for our American Church and the entire Church throughout the world. And in this perfect act of worship of the Father, the Eucharist, may God’s peace flow out more fully to us and to the whole world.

Finally, following the example of our new pope, we recall the one who leads us deeper into the heart of Jesus, his mother Mary, to whom our new Holy Father asked us today to pray, for the divine gift of peace on all the world and for his ministry. As we strive for peace, seek peace, negotiate for peace, even impose peace in our families, let’s recall Jesus cautioning us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives it do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be afraid.” 

So, Holy Mary, mother of God, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, come to our aid, asking your Son and our Savior to send His spirit of peace through the whole world. Mother, Mary, we also ask you to pray for Pope Leo XIV, that he may be an instrument of unity and peace for the church and the world!

And so let us pray as our new holy father has instructed us: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.