In his first address at the college of cardinals, Pope Leo XIV invokes the heritage of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII, saying that he wants the Church “responds to a new industrial revolution and the development of artificial intelligence”.
By Francesca Merlo
In his first official address at the college of cardinals after his election, Pope Leo XIV revealed the inspiration behind the name he chose – which, in his own words, echoes the lasting commitment of the Church towards human dignity and social justice.
“Pope Leo XIII, with historical encyclical Rerum novarumaddressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution, “recalls Pope Leo.” Today, the Church offers all its social teaching treasure in response to another industrial revolution and the developments of artificial intelligence. “A name not only rooted in the tradition, but which advances firmly with the challenges of a rapidly evolving world and a sustainable call to protect the most vulnerable.
Addressing the cardinals, which he called the “closest collaborators of the Pope”, on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV pronounced his first official address as a successor to Peter, expressing a sincere gratitude and a conscience of the immense responsibility which is now entrusted to him. “This yoke,” he said, “is clearly far beyond my strength-as it would be for anyone.”
Pope Leo noted that the days preceding his election had been marked by mourning, while the church farewell to Pope Francis. Recognizing the emotional weight of these farewells, the Pope described the death of the beloved Pope François and the subsequent conclave as “a pascal event”, an wrapped in the light of the resurrection.
The new bishop of Rome paid tribute to his predecessor, remembering the simplicity of Pope Francis, his radical dedication to the service and his peaceful return to the father. “Treasure this precious heritage and take back our trip,” he said, “animated by the same hope that comes from faith.”
The Holy Father recalled to those who gathered the silent but powerful presence of the risen Christ – “not in the roar of thunder and the earthquake”, but in “the murmur of a sweet breeze”. It is in this immobility, he said, that we meet the most intimately God, and it is this meeting which must guide the Church in its mission today.
Pope Leo then spoke of the Church both as “uterus” and “herd”, as “field” and “temple”, and he praised the unity shown by the faithful at the time of mourning, describing him as having “revealed the true grandeur of the Church”.
Looking towards the future, Pope Leo XIV reiterated the path launched by the Council of the Second Vatican, a renewed and reinterpreted path under Pope Francis. He underlined the key themes of the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium: the primacy of Christ, synodality, sensus fidei (The supernatural “sense” of the faithful), popular piety, care of poor and courageous engagement with the world.
“These are evangelical principles through which the merciful face of the father was revealed and continues to be revealed in the son makes man,” said Pope Leo.
Bringing his speech to an end, Pope Leo XIV called his cardinal brothers and the Church in the broad sense to continue on this path with “prayer and commitment”. Finally, he quoted Saint Paul VI, at the dawn of his own pontificate, praying that “a great flame of faith and love” could again spread around the world, lighting the way to all people of good will.
