
Pope Leo’s first words from the balcony in Rome were “Peace be with you.” Of all the things our new Holy Father could have chosen to say, that was the greeting he wanted the world to hear. He didn’t invent this ancient greeting, but his calm, peaceful demeanor seemed to embody the expression and say a great deal about him.
The risen Lord proclaimed “Peace be with you” when he appeared to the fearful disciples in the locked room. It’s the greeting we respond to at every Mass as we prepare to offer the sign of Christ’s peace to one another. It’s one of the greeting options for the priest to say at the beginning of Mass, which Archbishop Hebda often uses.
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Jn 14:23-29), Jesus says to his disciples, “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you.”
This teaches us that the gift of peace comes from our Lord. We are not the creators of peace, so much as ambassadors of his peace, bringing what we have received from the Prince of Peace to others.
Jesus compares his peace to the peace of the world, because the world is always trying to offer some kind of temporary or lesser peace or security instead. The day after he was chosen, Pope Leo offered his first Mass as pope with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. In his homily he said:
“Today there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak, and unintelligent, settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure. … A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
Jesus longs to give his peace to all. Christ is the very peace that we all desire. May God bless Pope Leo XIV in abundance as he leads us in the path of Christ’s peace. May our prayers assist him in the great calling that God has given to him.
Father Deziel is pastor of St. Joseph of the Lakes in Lino Lakes.
Sunday, May 25
Sixth Sunday of Easter