SEATTLE, May 8, 2025 – We share the joy of people around the world as we welcome Pope Leo XIV as our new Holy Father. Let us pray the Lord fills him with the peace and consolation of the Holy Spirit in these first and early days of his pontificate. Since the Lord has chosen him as the Universal Shepherd of the whole People of God, may we now support him with our prayers and unity.

Pope Leo XIV is an amazing choice as the next successor of Peter. The name chosen tells us he will put the social teachings of the Church at the heart of this pontificate. I have found this man in my brief encounters to be humble, affable, confident and competent in carrying out his responsibilities. We have hopeful and bright days ahead!

We are also immensely grateful to the cardinals who so prayerfully entered the conclave process – a process that is both divine and human - to select the successor of St. Peter. By listening to the movement of the Holy Spirit and their own prayer and discernment, they elected Cardinal Robert Prevost and demonstrated for all of us how we are to live our baptismal calling, in the presence of God.