There was expectation in Rome before the first appearance of, this Sunday at 12.00 for the prayer of Regina Coeli – which replaces the Angelus in Easter time – in the Plaza de San Pedro. It was another important moment to begin to understand how their communication is going to be, their style in speeches and their way of presenting themselves in public. It will happen in the next few days, starting on Monday, at a first audience to journalists, and will continue next Sunday with the Pontificate’s starting ceremony, which will be attended by heads of state and government worldwide. Then he will follow an intense week of meetings and ceremonies until May 25.
Actually, of this Pope, unlike the previous ones, practically nothing is known about what he thinks: he has no written production of books, documents or interventions, and the Vatican has not even confirmed that the profile of X that is presented as his, where the media have fish some reflections, is official.
The result of its ten minutes of intervention this noon, before 100,000 people, according to the Italian authorities, has combined some of the previous pontiffs in its own synthesis. First, catechesis for the faithful, without a single holder for the media, addressing the believing community itself, not to the rest of the world. But finally he has changed registration with an anniversary of the end of World War II. “I address the greats of the world: never war again!”, A repetition of Paul VI’s words in his speech before the UN General Assembly in 1965.
Then, Leo XIV has asked for “an authentic, fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine. With an explicit mention to the “beloved Ukrainian people” and the desire that “all prisoners and children can return with their families”, clear reference to the mediation work of the Vatican, undertaken by Francisco, so that Moscow allows the return of 19,000 Ukrainic minors deported in Russia. Next, he has spoken of the Middle East: “I am sadly saddened what is happening in the Gaza Strip. He ceases the fire immediately. Humanitarian aid to the exhausted civilian population is lent and all hostages are released.”
Leo XIV appeared very punctual at 12.00 on the balcony of San Pedro, as soon as the gianicolo hill can sound, behind the Vatican, which indicates noon. His white and lonely figure stood out in the dark background, just an assistant monsignor stood at one end. He read some folios in a plastic lectern. Silence was made in a place that until then was a massive party, a festive and colorful audience, full of music bands from dozens of countries, because they touched on their Sunday visiting the jubilee. Half -World banners and flags, many of the United States. There were also two European leaders of the extreme right, Matteo Salvini, of the League and vice president of the Italian Government, who has already been religious exaltation with rosaries and crucifixes, and the French Marine Le Pen, visiting Rome.
Thousands of people who made up a large auditorium already delivered to which it could be easily enraged, although it was quick that Leo XIV will not devote himself to it, and that the crowd that is encouraging him to overcome his shyness and lack of tables. Although it already defends itself. Leo XIV smiled and looked at the crowd to look for his reaction, but it seemed anyway outside the popular revelry when he took the floor. He read the speech that any pastor may have given this morning in any church, about Jesus as the “true shepherd” and the need for vocations.
He recalled the interventions of Benedict XVI, which made catechesis elaborated from the Apostolic Palace window. More significant detail, but for initiates that already begin to decipher messages between the lines: Leo XIV spoke that it was “the beginning” of his “service as bishop of Rome”, a note of humility and how he faces the position, with proximity to the faithful. Robert Prevost also calculated words of John Paul II, who were not in the speech written originally advanced to the media, when he addressed the young: “Do not be afraid!”
Then they followed a few minutes in Latin, in the song and the prayer of Regina Coeli, and listening in San Pedro “Oremus”, “Dominus vobiscum”, with a Pope who transmits recollection and serenity, who are already beginning to see differences with Francisco in gestures and solemnity. Especially in the United States, a hard and booming nucleus of this Church area, they are obsessed with recovering the Mass in Latin on their backs – very restricted by the Argentine Pope – and everything that sounds like tradition.
In this synthesis of styles, when he went from being a shepherd potato to political potato, the tone and legacy of Francisco, from whom he expressly cited the concept that the world is “before a third World War to pieces.” He asked for peace in the world and listed Ukraine, Gaza and the budding conflict between India and Pakistan. “But how many are conflicts in the world!” He exclaimed, to show his hope in “The Miracle of Peace.”
He did not forget, to finish, to congratulate Mother’s Day to all mothers, because in Italy and other countries it is celebrated this Sunday. “Happy party to all mothers!”He said to end in perfect Italian, like all his speech, a phrase of instantaneous efficiency that goes directly to the hearts of the Romans and the Italians, who have to win and begin to win, in his own way.
