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May 8, 2025On May 8, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, joyfully welcomed the election of the new Pope, Leo XIV (cover photo: @Vatican Media ).
Shortly after the Vatican's announcement, Bishop Paolo shared a message (full text) of congratulations. He expressed his spiritual closeness to the new Pope and assured him of the prayers of all the faithful in the Vicariate for his mission:
“We renew our commitment to walk in the footsteps of the Risen Lord and to place Him at the center of our lives. (...) We commit ourselves to pray for our new Pope and express our filial obedience to him.”
Bishop Paolo also expressed his hope that Pope Leo’s ministry would be “a sign of unity and hope for the Church and for all humanity, and an instrument of peace.”
The Bishop invited all the faithful of the Vicariate to join in prayer for the new Pope. On Friday 9, in every parish of the Vicariate, Holy Mass will be celebrated “for the Pope,” and his name will once again be mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer after 20 days.
Leo XIV
The cardinals gathered in conclave have elected the American Robert Francis Prevost—until now head of the Dicastery for Bishops—as the new Pontiff.
He is the 267th successor of Saint Peter and the Head of the Catholic Church.
“Peace be with you!” were the first words of the new Pope as he appeared in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ. Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ — a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. It comes from God, who loves each of us unconditionally.”
Born in Chicago in 1955, the new Pope joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977 and served as a missionary priest and later as a bishop in South America—particularly in Peru.
In his first message, he spoke of “a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and fosters dialogue, always open to welcome with open arms all those in need of our charity, our presence, our dialogue, and our love.”
Leo XIV served as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
“We want to be a synodal Church,” he said before giving the solemn blessing, “a Church that walks together, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to draw near especially to those who suffer.”
Photos: © Vatican Media