Anne Lastman
I recently came across a book The Next Pope” written by Edward Pentin, published 2020, and read this several months ago. I must admit to the sorrow that I felt first with the title of the book with the Holy Father Pope Francis RIP still then alive. To me it seemed such disrespect, such dishonor to the Vicar of Christ in this such an obvious manner. A total rejection of the reigning pontiff. In this book he wrote about the most suitable “papabiles” hoped for in the future, when the current pope resigned even passed away.
With the eventual passing away of the holy father Pope Francis all the aforementioned in the book were obviously mentioned as “papabiles” but I also recall the Italian saying “he who enters conclave a pope leaves a bishop” and of the nineteen candidates mentioned in the book not even one came close. It seems that the Holy Spirit wasn’t listening when the author of the book was listing the “papabiles” However it was either arrogance, contempt or even pride which led to this book.
When the words “Habemus Papam” (we have a pope) were uttered from the Loggia of Blessings and an unknown face emerged (pope Leo XIV) it led me to remember the words in the book I had recently read were not prophetic. I think that all of us when expecting the outcome of a new pope play the game of guess and some of hope. We hope that the Cardinal we know or have followed will be chosen but always the Holy Spirit seems to have his own idea of the Holder of the Keys of the Kingdom, the new Eliakim of the church, whose duties are to be the holder of the keys and distribute graces as the previous Eliakim distributed wheat. (2Kgs.18) “And I will clothe him with robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah and the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so, he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (2Kgs:18)
The key of the house of David is symbolic for the government of David in (Is. 22:21), which is a type or symbol of the government of Jesus Christ and whose holder of the keys is “Peter” who holds the keys as described in Isaiah 9. Further, according to Isaiah, the government or kingdom of Jesus Christ is established, or founded, on a work of judgment. (conclave) The key of the house of David is held by “Eliakim.” The keys of the House of Jesus are held by “Peter,” the Pope, who exercises final authority on matters of health of his flock and stewardship of the house of Jesus with the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Mt.16:18).
It always concerns me when so called followers of Jesus our Lord and his chosen “Peter” rebel against him and publicly desecrate the chair, Peter and the office of Peter. This most especially has happened in the last pontificate of HH Pope Francis.
The election of a very unknown and certainly not considered papabile, pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from North America, the first American Pope and to be known as His Holiness Pope Leo XIV clearly shows that as the saying goes, to go in as papabile is sure to exit as bishop, and those unknown to be known by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I’m reminded of “the last shall be first and the first shall be last, for many are called but few are chosen” (Mt.20:16
I have found it so interesting, encouraging even full of great hope that we have a new pope who is also in the style of Jesus, pope Francis, St John Paul II, and modern popes who have defied the times to hold fast to church teachings whilst leading the church always into new territory. A time when even “She” (Church) has been abused or thought to be too lax to go out to repair the gates that allowed wolves to enter. With enormous amazement, we look closely at the shepherds which Jesus quietly began the looking for to go out to find the lost sheep in order to bring them back in the fold for their protection. He has led with shepherds who have been single minded and forward looking with the guidance (as promised) by the Holy Spirit.
Beginning (just for ease I mention only a few) with Pius XI Casti Connubii, against the contraception within marriage (1930) Pope Paul VI Humane Vitae, (1968) Pope John XXIII, second Oecumenical Council (1959)) important to bring church to the “Now” so that all may understand the church better. May understand the beauty of our Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II the first pope to go out to the peripheries. To call the young (World youth day (1986) wrote more about human sexuality (to counter sexual revolution) than all the other popes in history. Theology of the Body, Man and Woman He Created them, Veritatis Splendour. Evangelium Vitae, Love and Responsibility, etc. The Pope, of the bringing down after the end of WWII , the Berlin Wall (1989) erected 1961, which Divided a country into two. Divided German against German. This pope who entered politics of divide and reunited them.
Then the Holy Spirit gave us pope Benedict XVI, a quiet theologian, scholar, who gave us so many holy words. Who broke open scriptures which gave us a clearer understanding of Jesus, and who wrote the most beautiful interpretations of scriptures and life of Jesus. Who can forget “introduction to Christianity” “Jesus of Nazareth” or “The Environment” taking care of our “common home,” (Pope Francis) “Light of the World,” “Spe Salve,” “Deus Caritas Est” and other important scriptures for our times. A pope who oozed holy words.
Following pope Benedict we were gifted with pope Francis, a shepherd most in the style of the One True Shepherd, Jesus, a shepherd who went out to find the poor, went into the favellas of the world, where the poor, the elderly, the sick, the homeless were to be found. Those who didn’t fit into the mold of the “holy ”ones, and he saw these as “prophets” A pope who invited them To banquets he had prepared for them. (Mt. 22:9) He found the marginalised, the suffering, even prisoners and took him into his care. This, a very humble pope. A shepherd, I felt, closest to in the style of Jesus. One who actually preached the Gospel and most importantly lived visibly the Gospel, as Jesus did. We saw him suffer, we saw him laugh and preach and teach and then a final blessing to the world on Easter Sunday 2025, and then he left us. Most of us very bereft, even though we knew it was coming and we knew he no longer suffered.
But as we know God never abandons us and sent another Shepherd who has stated that he will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. Thanked his predecessor, Pope Francis. God sent us a comforter, Pope Leo XIV who is still new to us. Most of the world had never heard of priest, bishop, archbishop, Cardinal Robert Prevost until the time following the white smoke. Many asked who is he? And soon we learn bit by bit that this new universal shepherd has been quietly working away as a missionary in Peru. His rise through the Augustinian order, quietly being noticed by the Holy Father Pope Francis who recognised the true “papabile.”
A pope, who not unlike the name Francis (after St Francis of Assisi, the Saint of the poor) took on a name of a previous pope Leo XIII (1891) who had brought attention to the charism of the church to be amongst the people, the hurting, poor, hungry. Whose Rerum Novarum broke open the dialogue on the social teaching of the church, justice and dignity for labour and labourers. To be amongst poverty itself. His document, Rerum Novarum, gave words to the indignities of the time, and beginning after his pontificate announced to bring the factions, classes together, defence of poor, just wages (a labourer is worthy of his hire. 1 Tim.5:18) the right to own one’s own property, homes. Dignity of work and dignity of the worker. The right to safety and self-protection. The right to life. The protection of “even the lowest classes” the right to work so that there is no resorting to crime in order to exist. The same justice for all especially protecting those who have no way of protection. Justice itself cries out against indignity and Pope Leo XIII began the vocalisation of the injustice amidst even the church. By taking this name, Leo XIV, our new pontiff has pointed to the issues of concern to him, though adding to the above mentioned his further concerns over social media dangers and AI dangers. A new shepherd with concerns of the past and added to them new issues which are of the present.
Beginning from the early 20th century or maybe just prior, the Lord sent us shepherds who began to bring to the flock a vision of what the church, which he himself had founded. Not a place of princes, kings, palaces, politics, but a church which takes care of those unwanted. Just as He had done throughout Jerusalem and its surrounds, and how he wanted his “bride” the Church to be and do same.
One after the other the different pontificates over the last hundred years have moved slowly to a time when shepherds were asked to get so close to their flock that they smelled like them (Pope Francis). Calls for the church to be seen as a “field hospital” to heal all (Pope Francis) like Jesus who healed even the madman in the caves (Mt.8:28-34). The demoniac, the blind, the weak, the sinner, the leper. He was the field hospital in person.
Throughout this past century, whilst the church has experienced over billion persecutions through terrorism, murder, kidnappings, all manner of violence, nevertheless, still did not abandon the flock but went out to the fields not only to announce the kerygma (good news) but to comfort and to prepare the people for the heavenly banquet. The church has never withdrawn from the persecution. It has never abandoned the of the poor.
And our new pope Leo IV, born in north America, who has lived the life of the Gospel as a missionary in Peru is charged to live the life of leading the flock through these days. He chose the life of missionary, though he could have had a life more refined. His Curriculum Vitae is so impressive it would take several pages to enumerated all of his achievements, but instead he chose the poor. Service to the poor, the missions, bringing the Gospel to those who had not heard it before. To be not with the high of office but amongst those in need.
Just like Pope Francis’s choice of name indicated what his ministry would be, to the poor, so Pope Leo’s first words to the world “Shalom, peace be with you” would be his own call. The words Jesus used “ peace be with you” after the Resurrection.” And this speaks to us of a shepherd who wants his flock safe and protected against wolves. He wishes peace for them. He wants his flock, all his flock, to know the peace of Jesus through having heard the Good News. Our new shepherd, Leo XIV’s first call is peace, not war, nation against nation or even brother against another, but Peace.
We rejoice in the miracles Jesus works quietly, “go and tell no one” (Lk 5:14) slowly, progressively he has chosen shepherds who are mindful and care for the flock which have been entrusted to them. In Leo XlV and his first words we can see that he will continue the work of his predecessors and the closest one Pope Francis, in going out to the peripheries and like his previous missionary work he will labour the same, just to a different and much bigger flock.
