Pope Leo: 'The Church responds to the challenges of artificial intelligence. Why I chose this name'

The Pontiff's meeting today with the cardinals is a "sign that he wants to listen to us" and that Pope Prevost's will be "a collegial pontificate", Archbishop Emeritus of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias told AsiaNews. A Pope "firmly rooted in the faith, shaped by St Augustine, the 'doctor of grace', when he states that the Church must illuminate 'the dark nights of this world'," the cardinal added. "I think Pope Leo brings hope, expectations and a new freshness, the freshness of the Holy Spirit, which will give new energy," said Gracias who said he was convinced that "while Pope Leo's pontificate will be influenced by that of Pope Francis as a point of reference, he will still have his own style. Immediately after his election, we saw him step onto the balcony wearing the traditional papal robes and I know that he will be a bridge within the Church as well'. And he pointed out that "during one of my meetings with Cardinal Provest, I asked him about his Augustinian formation and he replied: 'Balance between contemplation and action'".

Pope Leo XIV made a brief greeting to the Cardinal Dean. "I thank the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re - he deserves an applause, at least one if not more -, whose wisdom, the fruit of a long life and many years of faithful service to the Apostolic See, has greatly helped us during this time. I thank the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell - I believe he is present here - for the valuable and challenging role he has played during the time of the Sede Vacante and the Convocation of the Conclave'. He recalled the cardinals who, for health reasons, were unable to be present, "with you I embrace them in a communion of affection and prayer".

There was no lack of thoughts from Leo for Pope Francis: "At this moment, at once sad and happy, providentially enveloped in the light of Easter, I would like us to look together at the departure of the late Holy Father Francis and at the Conclave as an Easter event, a stage in the long exodus through which the Lord continues to guide us towards the fullness of life". And he entrusted the soul of the late Pontiff and also the future of the Church to the "merciful Father and God of all consolation".

Pope Prevost, meeting the cardinals, quoted Paul VI's message to the entire human family of 22 June 1963: "Dear brothers and sisters, I would like to conclude this first part of our meeting by making my own - and proposing to you as well - the wish that St Paul VI, in 1963, placed at the beginning of his Petrine ministry: 'Let it pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love, which will kindle all men of good will, enlighten their paths of mutual collaboration, and draw upon humanity, still and always, the abundance of divine complacency, the very power of God, without the help of Whom, nothing is valid, nothing is holy."

On Sunday 11 May, from dawn onwards, the cleansing of St Peter's Square for the first Regina Caeli of Pope Leo XIV will begin. To access the square there will be a double step of controls: first at the outermost pre-filters and then at the 'checkpoints' equipped with metal detectors. A flow of faithful is expected for tomorrow in line with that of the white smoke when 150,000 people converged on the square in less than an hour. Big screens will also be installed. Tomorrow is also scheduled the Jubilee of the Bands in which about 60 thousand participants are expected.