The Inauguration Mass for Pope Leo XIV underlined his message of peace and his role as a focal point of unity, said Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. Source: ACBC Media Blog.
Archbishop Costelloe and the Conference Vice President, Bishop Greg Bennet, were joined by Ukranian Eparch Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Melbourne Archbishop Peter A Comensoli Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo, who is also Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania president, at the Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, yesterday.
“There’s an instinct in Catholics that we need that something that holds us together. And then for us as bishops, we have this tradition of thinking about the bishops as the successors of the apostles and the Pope as the successor of St Peter, as head of the apostles,”. Archbishop Costelloe said.
“That sense of unity with the Pope is important … I think it’s all about unity, communion, belonging together, supporting each other.”
Archbishop Costelloe said it also symbolised the shifts in numerical strength within the Church, from Europe to Africa and Asia.
“There’s a new face of the Church emerging, and having a Pope who is from America, spent a lot of time in South America, but understands the European scene well … he’ll be well placed to face the challenges of a truly global church.
“I think it’s an exciting time. We’re looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do next.”
Bishop Bennet said there was a great sense of joy in Australia about the new Pope.
“Pope Leo has spoken about peace. And I think the world needs that voice, the voice of hope, the voice of truth, the voice of beauty. And I think he can bring that to us.
“It’s an exciting time for the world to have somebody who can speak into that … to breathe hope and joy to others.
“And I expect Pope Leo will continue to speak into the missionary aspect of the Church, and particularly issues of poverty where people are marginalised, to be able to really encourage the world to see as themselves as brothers and sisters.”
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Bishops attend Pope Leo XIV Inauguration Mass in Rome (ACBC Media Blog)
