Dear brothers,
Habemus Papam! With the whole Church, we lift our hearts in thanksgiving to the Lord for the gift of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.
His first words to the world as Successor of Peter were a call to build bridges, work for peace, and proclaim the Gospel with courage and joy. These words resonate deeply with our missionary spirit. In them, we already glimpse a shepherd willing to walk with the People of God on the path of hope, even amid the uncertainties of our time.
The Petrine ministry remains a mystery of grace and burden. We have seen in recent decades how popes have carried this responsibility with faith, often amidst misunderstanding and resistance—especially when they step beyond ideological confines to follow the breath of the Spirit. The Pope is a human being—called, chosen, and sustained by God to serve as a pontifex, a builder of communion, in a Church that is called to journey synodally.
After the joy of the announcement comes the solitude of the cross. The Pope will now walk a path where his closest collaborators may not always understand him, and where criticism can sometimes overshadow communion. It is here that our solidarity as sons of the Church becomes all the more important.
As Claretians, faithful to the legacy of our Founder, we do not bind ourselves to political or ideological camps. We walk in fidelity to the Gospel and in communion with the Pope, whoever he may be, trusting that God speaks through the humble vessels He chooses.
We welcome Pope Leo XIV with fraternal affection and missionary openness. May he be consoled by our prayers and supported by our fidelity. We entrust his pontificate to the Heart of Mary, asking her to guide him with her maternal tenderness.
Viva il Papa!
Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF
Superior General
