This was Pope Leo's Meeting with the Cardinals

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV met the cardinals on Saturday in the Paul VI Audience Hall. The cardinals welcomed the new pontiff with a long applause. The meeting took place behind closed doors.

Pope Leo: "Great Comfort"

"You, dear cardinals, are the closest collaborators of the pope, and that is a great comfort to me as I take on a yoke that obviously goes far beyond my strength, as it goes beyond the strength of everyone. Your presence reminds me that the Lord, who has entrusted me with this task, does not leave me alone to bear the responsibility," said the new pope in his address to the cardinals.

The pope explained why he felt called to take the name Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) addressed social issues in the context of the first great industrial revolution with his historic encyclical "Rerum novarum." Today, the church is called to "respond to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence, which bring new challenges for the protection of human dignity, justice, and work," said Leo XIV.

Leo XIV also placed special emphasis on the future of the church. Referring to the Second Vatican Council, he called for a continuation of the path of "synodality," for missionary conversion, for greater collegiality, and for a loving approach to the marginalized. He quoted the Evangelii gaudium of his predecessor and explicitly mentioned popular piety as an expression of the faith sense of the people of God.

In his speech, Leo XIV also spoke about the responsibility of the Petrine ministry. "The pope is a humble servant of God and the brothers, nothing more," he emphasized, while also praising the "simple dedication and essential way of life" of his predecessor. The meeting with the cardinals lasted about two hours.

Cardinal Praises Pope Leo

"The meeting with the Pope went very well. Among other things, we talked about the need to make the Church more collegial. He is a very good Pope, and he received much more than 100 votes in the conclave," said the Madagascan Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina, after the first meeting with the Pope, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. 133 papal electors determined Francis' successor on Thursday during the fourth ballot.

Midday Prayer Awaits

On Sunday at 12:00 PM, the 267th Bishop of Rome will hold his first public midday prayer - known as "Regina Coeli" in the post-Easter period - on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. Before the first Sunday Mass of the newly elected Pope, which is expected to draw 150,000 faithful, the Vatican and the police in Rome are taking strict security measures. Unlike the last papal election, no one will enter St. Peter's Square without having their luggage, clothing, and person scanned with detectors, similar to airport security. Barricades have been set up around the Vatican. More than 4,000 security personnel will be on duty on Sunday.

Special forces of the Italian military are securing St. Peter's Square with equipment for drone defense. The anti-drone systems are deployed against potential aerial terrorist threats. Numerous police officers will be stationed around the Vatican. Security measures have also been heightened at the city's three other papal basilicas, particularly at Santa Maria Maggiore near Rome's main train station, Termini. The church houses the tomb of Pope Francis. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri expressed satisfaction with all these precautions and praised the readiness and team spirit.

Mass for the Inauguration Follows

The Mass for the inauguration of Leo XIV on May 18 at St. Peter's Square could become a major gathering of heads of state and government in Rome, similar to the funeral ceremony for his predecessor Francis. Vatican sources reported on Saturday that US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could attend the solemn service.

Vance was one of the last high-ranking politicians received by Francis before his death on Easter Monday. The USA will participate with a large delegation at the inauguration of the new Pope from Chicago. The presence of Ukrainian President Zelensky, who had already attended Francis' funeral on April 27, is also not ruled out. Dozens of heads of state and government, as well as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world, will travel to Rome for the inauguration of the new Pope.

(APA/Red)

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