'Very encouraging': Cork's bishops and priests welcome 'gifted man' Pope Leo XIV

The Bishop of Cork and Ross and the Bishop of Cloyne have welcomed the election of “gifted man” Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Catholic Church.

Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that new Pope has the best wishes of all Irish people.

Pope Leo XIV emerged onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome to cheers and applause from a packed St Peter’s Square yesterday evening. He was formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago, and is 69 years of age.

The new pontiff is the 267th pope and becomes the religious leader for 1.4bn Catholics around the globe.

Speaking following the election of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross said: “It’s very encouraging to hear the key points made by the Holy Father in his first remarks. He emphasised the need for unity and peace in the world and in the Church.

“Pope Leo also has a connection with Cork and Ross Diocese because until last year, he was a bishop in Peru.

“Many of the priests and religious sisters in our diocese have also spent time as missionaries in Peru.”

Bishop Gavin added: “Pope Leo XIII, the last pope to take the name Leo, issued an important document in 1891 on the social teaching of the Church. And this new Pope is someone who has ministered with among the poor in Peru.

“I invite the people of our diocese to pray for Pope Leo as he becomes our chief shepherd and guides us closer to the Risen Lord.”

Speaking to The Echo, Bishop of Cloyne William Crean described the new Pope as a “very gifted man”.

“He is a man that has been very close to Pope Francis,” he said. “His background is very interesting. His mother was Italian and father was French.

“He joined the Augustinian Order and was a priest with them all of his life. He spent quite a bit of time in South America.

“What I found most interesting reflecting on it, Pope Francis was a Bishop in South America in Peru. Pope Francis in a sense plucked him out and brought him to Rome as the senior man in the congregation for Bishops.

“Really what Pope Francis did was he gave him a huge amount of responsibility for finding the new leaders of the church all over the world. That gives him a global perspective of the church already.” Bishop Crean added: “The fact he has been in Rome and he was very close to Pope Francis. I imagine that he has a good feel for the vision that Pope Francis was offering for the church and to the world.

“He is probably not as flamboyant or as charismatic as Pope Francis was. But he sounds like a man that has a clear sense of mission.

“I imagine that he will take up all of the strands that Pope Francis has initiated.

“I imagine that he will have a strong sense of the vision for care of the earth. I would say this man has a great capacity to unify where there might have been areas of tension.

“Obviously he has to grow into his situation. But I have a sense that from reading his background, that he will want to take up the key elements of Francis and carry it forward.” The Taoiseach said he looks forward to working with Pope Leo XIV.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I offer warm congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election as Pope Leo XIV.

“The scenes of great joy and celebrations in St. Peter’s Square are a reflection of the hopes and goodwill felt by people of the Catholic faith from all around the world towards the new Pope.

“I hope that this groundswell of best wishes towards Pope Leo XIV will give him strength and support as he takes on the immense responsibility of his pontificate. I know that he has the best wishes of all Irish people, of all traditions.

“I also send my congratulations to the people of the United States, a country with which Ireland enjoys such a deep and strong relationship. To have a Pope from their country is a source of great pride and an honour for their nation.

TAOISEACH LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH NEW POPE

The Taoiseach added: “I wish Pope Leo XIV every strength, good health, and the required spiritual guidance as he begins his mission of leading the Catholic Church at a time of challenge, building on the pastoral direction and achievements of Pope Francis.

“I look forward to working with Pope Leo XIV as an important and influential partner in addressing the many and interlinked challenges facing our world, as we work for peace, justice and sustainable development for all.” White smoke was seen coming from the Sistine Chapel at around 5.10pm on Thursday evening, indicating that a successor to Pope Francis had been chosen by the 133 cardinals of the papal conclave.

The new pope was elected on the fourth count and on the second day of voting.

The secret conclave meeting to elect a new pope had only just begun some 24 hours earlier.

The 133 cardinals had voted on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, with black smoke emitted from the chapel chimney twice, indicating that nobody had been elected.

On Thursday afternoon, white smoke began to emerge out, with onlookers on hand to observe as the Church confirmed it had its new leader.

This conclave was thought to be one of the most diverse of any meeting of cardinals before, representing some 70 countries and hailing from places like Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga, which had not had a cardinal before.

The new Pope will have the challenge of following in the footsteps of the late Francis, whose popularity saw him dubbed “the people’s pope”.

An Augustinian friar, the new Pope is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

International development charity Cafod said Pope Leo’s years as a missionary in Peru mean he can bring into his papacy “the vital perspective of the global south, elevating voices from the margins to centre stage”.

Pope Francis had been outspoken against war and division, and with his first words Pope Leo indicated he will follow suit.

He told the huge crowds in St Peter’s Square “Peace be with you,” as he preached a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelisation.

Speaking to The Echo, Cobh based priest Fr Acquin Casey also welcomed the appointment of Pope Leo XIV and looked forward to what lies in store for the new leader of the Catholic Church.

“I think it is a very exciting day for the church. He has a long term ahead of him. Looking at the scenes and the commentary from Rome I think we are in a very happy place this evening.

“I am surprised at how fast he has been elected and maybe that is a very good thing, that he obviously emerged as a Pope that stood out.” Speaking to The Echo about the election of Pope Leo XIV , Whitechurch based priest Fr Gabriel Burke said that his past experience should prepare him well for the role.

“He has worked in the Augustinians and he has worked in Latin America. He will have a more universal view of things. He has been dealing with Bishops from all over the world in the last few years.

“The last few Popes have kind of focused on Europe and European problems. Whereas the church is really universal.

“The problems of the African church and the upcoming churches in Asia. He will have a much broader view.” Donoughmore based priest, Fr Eamonn McCarthy said:

“It will be interesting to see how it unfolds. It is also very interesting that he is American. I was thinking we might get an African or an Asian Pope.

“So an American Pope brings a different flavour to things, given the political situation in the world.

“But interesting too from a Cork connection that he spent some time in the mission in Peru. So he might already be known to Cork priests to dedicated themselves to the mission in the Peru over the years.

Fr McCarthy added: “Other than that, it is amazing how the Holy Spirit works and we will see how it unfolds.

“He seems to be fresh and healthy. He held the role as the head of the congregation for appointing Bishops in Rome, which is no small task.

“So it means that he will be familiar with many of the Bishops around the world, which will put him in a very interesting position.

“He second message was in Spanish, he is obviously very fluent in Italian and no doubt English is his native tongue. That makes it very interesting as well.” 

Giving his reaction, Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins said on the newly elected Pope Leo XIV:

“This is a significant moment for all of us who hold faith and tradition close to heart. We hope the new pontiff will guide with wisdom and compassion, grounded in the teachings that have given strength to Irish communities for generations.

“We remember Pope Francis and his deep commitment to the poor and the marginalised. We now look ahead in hope that the new pope will steer the Church with clarity, integrity and a renewed understanding of the role faith plays in the life of nations.” Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has described the appointment of Pope Leo XIV as a “day of profound significance”, as she urged the Pope to stand with Gaza.

In a post on X, she wrote: “This is a day of profound significance for Catholics in Ireland and worldwide, as Pope Leo XIV assumes his role of spiritual leader.

“I hope he will use his influence to stand up for the marginalised and oppressed, champion peace, and lead with courage and compassion - just as his predecessor, Pope Francis, did.

“As the genocide in Gaza continues and a devastating famine looms, I encourage the Pope to stand unwaveringly for the rights of the Palestinian people to life, dignity, and freedom, and to urgently use his influence to help bring an end to this barbaric genocide.”

The Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Armagh and Archbishop of Dublin have also sent their good wishes to the new Pope.

Pope Leo XIV will hold an audience on Monday morning with the world’s media, the Vatican press office said.