Newly Elected Pope Leo XIV Ushers In “new energy, new hope” with His “many hats”: Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria

Before his Episcopal Consecration in December 2014 as Local Ordinary of Chiclayo Catholic Diocese that followed his appointment as Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese the previous month, Pope Leo XIV had various capacities, including OSA Provincial Superior in Chicago, Vocations Director, Missions Director, lecturer, formator, judicial vicar, and Parish administrator among other Priestly and Religious responsibilities.

Most notably, his role as OSA Superior General for 12 years (2001-2013) gave him the opportunity to travel and meet people of God across the globe, including multiple African countries.

And as Bishop, having taken 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”, Pope Leo XIV was appointed 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, playing 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 Cardinal-Bishop and granted him the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano.

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 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.

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.

In the May 12 interview with ACI Africa, Archbishop Crotty reflected on the first address of the Holy Father.

“He began with ‘Peace be with you,’ the words of the Risen Christ. This salutation is also particular to Bishops, and it shows his deep scriptural and Christ-centered focus. It gives us a clue about his priorities—peace, missionary outreach, and faith formation,” the Irish-born Vatican diplomat said.

On the question of whether Pope Leo’s American nationality might affect global politics or economics, Archbishop Crotty drew a distinction between the roles of religious and political leaders.

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“The Pope is not a politician. He is a moral authority. His role is to stand above politics and witness to truth, justice, and dignity,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria said.

He added, “While he is American by birth, he is now the shepherd of the universal Church. The respect given to Popes transcends national boundaries. They are seen as a moral compass in a world that often lacks one.”

Asked about the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s prior visits to Nigeria, Archbishop Crotty noted that these connections would enhance the Church’s mission in the West African nation that is Africa’s most populous country.

“Nigeria is still a vast mission field. There are many areas that remain unevangelized. The Pope understands this and will likely support efforts to reach these communities,” the Apostolic Nuncio said.

He invited the people of God in Nigeria to “pray for Pope Leo XIV, that God will bless him and guide him in his mission as the successor of Saint Peter.”