Last Friday 8 May, marked one year since the American-born Augustinian priest and Bishop of Chiclayo (Peru), Robert Francis Prevost, was elected the 267th Bishop of Rome, the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas (Pope Francis was the first) and the first Augustinian Pope of the universal Catholic Church.
On this day a year ago, Prevost took the name Leo XIV and greeted the world as the newly-elected Pope with these first words: ‘Peace be with you all!’ He went on to say: ‘I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.’ In his first speech, Pope Leo XIV invoked and referred to ‘peace’ multiple times, and ‘peace’ has become the hallmark of his pontificate.
For more on Pope Leo XIV’s first anniversary, you might like to take a look at this Twelve Months with Pope Leo: A Video Retrospect from Vatican News and these articles from CathNews:
- Pope’s first words a preview of his first year
- Pope marks anniversary of election at Marian shrine in Pompeii
Just a reminder that St. John’s (across the road from OLMC) is celebrating 175 years in various ways throughout the year, as advertised in their 2026 Parish Calendar. Other upcoming events worth highlighting include:
- 175th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Friday, 29 May at 7.00pm in Ivanhoe Centre-Heidelberg Town Hall (ticketed event)
- Thanksgiving Mass for the Sisters of Mercy on Sunday, 13 September at 10.30am, followed by morning tea
Like Pope Leo XIV, may we pray for and promote peace; personally, communally and globally. In our pursuit of peace, and as members of our OLMC community, may we be inspired by our OLMC values of Justice, Courage, Compassion and Joy.
