“Season of hope, renewal”: Africa’s Catholic Bishops Hail Election of Pope Leo XIV as “new chapter” in Church’s Life

“As a continent blessed with a rapidly growing Catholic population and a youthful, vibrant Church, Africa looks with great expectation to the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV,” Catholic Bishops in Africa say in their Press release.

They pray that “his leadership will inspire efforts to deepen the faith, strengthen vocations, and advance authentic, Christ-centered development. Africa, rich in culture, history, and deep-rooted spirituality, remains an indispensable partner in the mission of the universal Church.”

Credit: SECAM

On May 8 evening, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where the 133 Cardinal Electors had been gathering since the previous day for the 2025 Conclave. 

The white smoke signalled that the 133 Cardinal Electors had elected the successor of St. Peter to take over from the late Pope Francis, who passed on Easter Monday, April 21 and was laid to rest on April 26 in his “beloved” Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major as he had explained in his testament.

When the new Pontiff, who has taken the Papal name Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he addressed the people of God present in person and all those, who were watching around the world, offering his first blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) as the new Roman pontiff.

Cardinals process to the Sistine Chapel as the conclave to elect the 266th successor to St. Peter, the 267th pope, begins on May 7, 2025. | Vatican Media

In his first address as Pope, the 69-year-old American-born member of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) asked the people of God to help the Church build bridges through dialogue and encounter, working for unity and peace.

The newly elected Pontiff has explained his choice of Papal name, noting that Pope Leo XIII “addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution” with his May 1891 Encyclical Letter on capital and labor, Rerum Novarum.

“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labor,” Pope Leo XIV said.

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Pete’s Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

In the one-page Press Statement that SECAM President, the Local ordinary of Kinshasa Catholic Archdiocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed, Africa’s Catholic Bishops say they trust that “Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral wisdom and evangelical zeal will reinforce the Church’s commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of all people, particularly the poor, the marginalized, and those suffering the consequences of conflict, inequality, and neglect.”

They reaffirm their “full communion and collaboration with Pope Leo XIV” and add, “We stand ready to work with him in addressing the pressing challenges facing our communities, including: conflicts, poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, interreligious dialogue, and environmental stewardship.”

“We believe his leadership will unlock Africa’s full potential, empowering our youth to become agents of positive change, inspired by the Gospel,” SECAM members say about the newly elected Pope, who has visited Africa on multiple occasions, the latest one being in December 2024 to Kenya, where he presided over the consecration and dedication of the new chapel at Augustinian International House of Theology in Karen, Nairobi.

Credit: SECAM

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In their Press Statement, Africa’s Catholic Bishops “assure Pope Leo XIV of our prayers and unwavering support as he begins his mission as Successor of Peter and Pastor of the universal Church.”

“May Mary, Mother of the Church and Patroness of Africa, intercede for him and for the entire continent,” SECAM members implore.

The newly elected Pontiff was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, USA to Louis Marius Prevost of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez of Spanish descent; he has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.

He studied at the Augustinian Minor Seminary in Michigan and later, in 1977, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Pope Leo XIV gives the homily at Mass with the cardinale electors in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

He was admitted to the OSA Novitiate in Saint Louis, the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago, in September 1977 and made his First Profession in September 1978. In August 1981, he made his Perpetual Profession.

He was ordained a Priest in June 1982 in Rome, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Archbishop Jean Jadot, then pro-president of the Secretariat for Non-Christians, later the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and currently the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

The holder of Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago obtained his Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in 1984.

In 1987, after successfully defending his dissertation on "The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine", he obtained his Doctorate in Canon Law from the same Rome-based Pontifical University.

While he was working on his doctoral dissertation, he was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985–1986).

Pope Leo XIV addresses cardinals in the Sistine Chapel during his first Mass as pope on Friday, May 9, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

He was appointed vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Olympia Fields, Illinois (USA) before he was again commissioned to Peru, joining the mission in Trujillo as director of the joint formation project for Augustinian candidates from the vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurímac.

For some 11 years, he served as Prior of the community (1988–1992), formation director (1988–1998), and instructor for professed members (1992–1998), and in the Archdiocese of Trujillo as judicial vicar (1989–1998) and professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Moral Theology at the Major Seminary “San Carlos y San Marcelo.”

He also had the pastoral care of Our Lady Mother of the Church, later established as the parish of Saint Rita (1988–1999), in a poor suburb of the city; he was also parish administrator of Our Lady of Monserrat (1992-1999). 

In 1999, he was elected Provincial Prior of the Augustinians of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Chicago. Two and a half years later, the ordinary General Chapter of the Augustinians elected him as Prior General, and reconfirmed him in 2007 for a second term, which ended in 2013.

In October 2013, he returned to OSA Chicago Province, where he served as director of formation at the St. Augustine Convent, first councillor, and Provincial Vicar, until November 2014, when the late Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo Catholic Diocese in Peru, elevating him to the Episcopal dignity and Titular Bishop of Sufar. 

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful in St. Peter's Square shortly after his election to the papacy, Thursday, May 8, 2025. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

He took up as his episcopal motto, “In Illo uno unum”, words of St. Augustine in a sermon on Psalm 127 explaining that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”

While serving in Peru, the late Pope Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy in 2019 and then a member of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2020.

In 2023, the late Pope Francis made him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. In that capacity, he played a key role in the selection process for Local Ordinaries around the world and in the investigation of allegations against Bishops.

The late Pope Francis created him a Cardinal in the September 2023 Consistory. The following month, he was appointed a member of multiple Dicasteries, including for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the Eastern Churches, for the Clergy, for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, for Culture and Education, for Legislative Texts, and for the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State.

On February 6, the late Pope Francis promoted him to the Order of Bishops, granting him the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano.

On March 3, when the late Pope Francis was admitted at Gemelli hospital, he presided over the Rosary for his predecessor’s health in Saint Peter’s Square.

Pope Leo XIV prays at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, Saturday, May 10, 2025 | Credit: Vatican Media

Following his May 8 election, the Holy See has unveiled his official portrait and signature. The Saturday, May 10 unveiling revealed Pope Leo XIV’s embrace of traditional papal elements, returning to traditional Papal elements. 

Credit: Vatican Media

The formal portrait shows Pope Leo XIV wearing the red mozzetta (short cape), embroidered stole, white rochet, and golden pectoral cross — traditional papal vesture that present a visual contrast to the simpler style preferred by his immediate predecessor, the late Pope Francis.