Miami Archbishop Wenski: May our new pope possess the heart and courage of a lion | Opinion

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian friar, graduate of Villanova University in Philadelphia and former missionary in Peru, appeared on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica Square as Pope Leo XIV, the 267th successor of St. Peter, bishop of Rome, and head of the universal Church.

While some of the “papal handicappers” had floated his name in the lead-up to the conclave, his election came as a surprise — if not a shock — to the millions awaiting the announcement of the new pontiff after white smoke billowed above the roof of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, ending the papal conclave.

From Miami, I also watched television from Vatican City to see who would be the new pope.

Conventional wisdom held that no American could be elected pope. I believed it too.

The optics of a pope from the world’s biggest (and richest) superpower, pundits said, made the election of an American impossible — until it wasn’t.

But, of course, Pope Leo XIV is not a typical American cleric. He spent the majority of his priesthood as a missionary in Peru. And while he holds a degree in canon law, his career path to the papacy was far from typical.

Nevertheless, having served as a religious superior, seminary professor, pastor, bishop and vocation director (essentially a recruiter for future priests) and with advanced academic credentials and fluency in several languages, he has checked many of the boxes that suggest his papacy will be competent in administration, innovative in strategy and sensitive to the social, economic and cultural challenges facing Catholics today.

During my homily before the conclave began, I had said: “We are not praying for the pope we want, but for the pope we need.”

Those in need are Catholics striving to remain faithful to the Gospel in a rapidly secularizing world — one marked by intractable conflict among nations and divided social groups.

The last pope to take the name Leo — Leo XIII (d. 1903) — was the first of the modern popes. He authored the milestone encyclical Rerum Novarum, which launched a series of papal teachings on social issues, including the right to a just wage and the rights of workers to form unions. Thus began the development of Catholic Social Teaching, which each subsequent pope has expanded.

The first Pope Leo — Leo the Great (d. 461) — is remembered as the “Hun whisperer” for famously confronting Attila the Hun and persuading him to spare the city of Rome from destruction. In this world today, we need someone to hold back the barbarians.

In his letter to Titus, St. Paul offered a rule of conduct for all who serve within the Church’s hierarchical structure: “Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.” (Titus 2:7–8)

These words are wise counsel for Pope Leo XIV and anyone bearing responsibility in the Church.

As pope, he will speak to the world as both pastor and teacher. But he should not speak in the idiom of politics or polemics.

Instead, he should speak in the language of the Gospel of Life.

We pray for him. It is no easy task to fill the shoes of the fisherman.

Leo, of course, is Latin for lion. May Leo XIV be a gentle shepherd of souls, yet possess the heart and courage of a lion.

In the months and years to come, I am sure we will hear him roar.

Thomas G. Wenski is the archbishop of Miami and is responsible for the pastoral care of more than one million Catholics worshiping in 105 parish communities.