‘It’s time of love!”

May 18, was an important day for the Calandrelli Community. Several sisters (Catherine, Rizalyn, Liliane, Marissa and Beatriz), had the opportunity to participate in the Eucharist at the beginning of the Petrine ministry of Pope Leo XIV.

In a colourful and joyful St. Peter’s Square, thousands of faithful from all over the world were anxiously awaiting the beginning of the celebration.

Before the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV wished to greet the faithful and, for the first time, he passed through the thousands of people present and along Via della Conciliazione in a popemobile. Applause, nerves, smiles, and a great desire to greet and listen to the new Pope.

The solemn ceremony began inside the Vatican Basilica, with a prayer at the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, together with the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches. From there, the Gospel Book, the Pallium and the Fisherman’s Ring were carried in procession to the altar in the atrium of St. Peter’s Square, while the choir sang the Litany of All Saints.

After the proclamation of the Gospel, three cardinals from different continents approached Leo XIV for the presentation of the ‘Petrine’ episcopal insignia: Cardinal Mario Zenari imposed the Pallium on him; Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu pronounced the prayer invoking the help of the Holy Spirit and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presented him with the Fisherman’s Ring.

The ceremony continued with the symbolic rite of ‘obedience’, rendered to the Pope by representatives of all categories of the People of God, coming from various parts of the world: a bishop; a priest; a deacon; two religious: Sister Oonah O’Shea, Superior General of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion and president of the UISG; and the president of the USG, Father Arturo Sosa, SJ; a married couple and two young people.

He then expressed three wishes in his homily:

– A united Church, to be leaven for a reconciled world;

– To look to Christ, to draw near to him, to accept his Word that enlightens and consoles, to listen to his proposal of love, to become his one family. In the one Christ, we are one!

– It is the hour of love!

An emotional Pope, who acknowledged, ‘I was elected without any merit and, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who wishes to become a servant of faith and joy.’ Thank you, Pope Leo XIV.