Urbi et Orbi- Prima Benedictio

URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
LEO XIV

First Blessing

Peace be with you all!

Dearest 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, all people, wherever they are, all peoples, all the earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarmed peace and a disarming, humble and persevering peace. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally.

We still keep in our ears that weak but ever courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning. Allow me to follow up on 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 among ourselves, let us move forward! We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Let us also help each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people always in peace. Thanks to Pope Francis!

I would also like 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 trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint 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.

[Translated from Spanish- the rest is translated from Italian] And if you'll allow me a word, a greeting to everyone, and in particular to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith, and given so much, so much, to continue being the 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 tries to be close especially to those who suffer.

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

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