New Pope Leo XIV. With the commitment to peace and justice!

New Pope Leo XIV. With the commitment to peace and justice!

On May 8, 2025, the conclave in the Vatican was commissioned in a rousing process to choose a successor for the late Pope Francis. At 6 p.m. the white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine chapel and announced the election of a new Pope. The 69-year-old American Robert Prevost received the majority of the votes in the fourth ballot and chose the name Leo XIV, based on the traditionally large popes of history, including Leo XIII, who ruled from 1878 to 1903 and was known as a reconciler. This decision marks an important moment for the Catholic Church and its future.

Hans-Jürgen Knubben, spokesman for the Pax-Christi group, expressed optimistically about the choice. He believes that Leo XIV will show a strong commitment to the poor and disadvantaged. "Today's choice is a sign of the Vatican that quickly fulfilled his responsibility," said Pastor Roland Scheulen. In the tradition of Leo-Popes, he saw a source of hope, especially with regard to social justice and peace in crisis areas.

First reactions to the pope choice

The choice of Leo XIV. Kirsten Fehrs, the Council President of the Evangelical Church in the Sprengel Hamburg and Lübeck, congratulated the new Pope and wished him God's blessing for his responsible position. She emphasized the urgency to stand up together with other denominations for justice and peace. Catholic dioceses in northern Germany also expressed congratulations and manifested the desire to strengthen the ecumenical community.

The first words of the new Pope were particularly emphasized: "Peace is with you!". This message speaks in a time of great conflicts, especially with regard to the Russian attack war on Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Hamburg archbishop Stefan Heße appreciated this call and emphasized the global desire for peace.

The path of the new Pope

Leo XIV. His expectations formulated in advance of the election aim to continue the humanitarian commitment of the Vatican in times of crisis. "We hope that Leo XIV. Diplomatic skill shows in the Ukraine conflict and in the Middle East," continued Scheulen. The hopes are not only in his own vision, but also in the historical role of the popes, which have always occurred for peace and the memory of social responsibility.

Pope Francis himself emphasized in his last public statements that justice is a fundamental prerequisite for peace. "Anyone who does not pay for workers are not a fair wage," he said, making it clear that the church has to actively work for social issues. Such principles will accompany Leo XIV in his office and hopefully give him the strength to meet the challenges of his time.