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May 8, 2025The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia rejoices, together with the whole Church, at the election of the new Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV, and expresses its heartfelt spiritual closeness to him in his mission as the successor of St Peter and Shepherd of the Universal Church.
His election during the Easter season and in the Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope, speaks once again of the love of the Risen Lord towards His Church, to which He never fails to give shepherds after His own heart.
In unity with the successor of St Peter, we renew our commitment to walk in the footsteps of the Risen Lord and to place Him at the center of our lives.
With Peter, we are once again called to rediscover our true identity—the one that comes from the Risen Lord, who calls us by name and gives our life its mission, on the shores of our own Sea of Galilee, as he did to Peter: “You are Peter” (Mt 16:18).
As the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, a Church of migrants, made up of faithful from many nations, languages, and rites, we commit ourselves to pray for our new Pope and express our filial obedience to him.
May the Holy Spirit, whom the Risen Lord has given to the Church “without measure” (Jn 3:34), enlighten Pope Leo XIV with the abundance of His gifts to fulfill his mission.
May his ministry be a sign of unity and hope for the Church and for all humanity, and an instrument of peace. May he guide the People of God, with humility and love and strengthen his brothers and sisters in the faith.
In this Marian month, we entrust the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Arabia. May she accompany him with her maternal care.
+ Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap
Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia