The new Pope

The full text of Leo XIV's first address

"Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming, humble and persevering peace. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally," the new Pontiff began

8 May 2025

Il neoeletto Papa Leone XIV, il cardinale statunitense Robert Francis Prevost, benedice i fedeli dalla loggia centrale della Basilica di San Pietro

3' min read

Below is the full text of the first speech of Pope Prevost, Leo XIV, delivered at St. Peter's after his election.

"Peace be with you all! Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming peace and a disarming, humble, persevering peace. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still keep in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome! The Pope blessing Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that Easter morning. Let me follow up that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and each other let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to God and His love. Help us too, then one another to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people always at peace. Thank you Pope Francis!"

"I also want to thank all my brother cardinals who have chosen me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always seeking to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of St Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: 'with you I am a Christian and for you a bishop'. In this sense we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us. To the Church of Rome a special greeting! [applause] We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. Everyone, everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love'.

"Y si me permiten también, una palabra, un saludo a todos aquellos y en modo particular a mi querida diócesis de Chiclayo, en el Perú, donde un pueblo fiel ha acompañado a su obispo, ha compartido su fe y ha dado tanto, tanto para seguir siendo Iglesia fiel de Jesucristo.

And if you will allow me a word, a greeting to all and especially to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith and given much, much to continue to be a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.

"To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace".