My dear children: may Jesus watch over my daughters and sons for me!
I am writing these lines to share with you the joy of knowing that the Church and the world now have a new Vicar of Christ: Pope Leo XIV. From the moment his name was announced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, we have been offering our prayers for him and for the immense mission that lies ahead of him.
At times like this, the faith of the Church shines with particular splendour in the unity of hearts and prayer for our common Father and for all our brothers and sisters. Today especially, we are called to live that advice which Saint Josemaría left us in The Forge: “You must love, venerate, pray and mortify yourself for the Pope, and do so with greater affection each day. He is the foundation stone of the Church and, throughout the centuries, right to the end of time, he carries out among men that task of sanctifying and governing which Jesus entrusted to Peter” (The Forge, no. 134).
The words he spoke to us just before giving his blessing still echo in our hearts: “We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and his love.” May we “pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world,” just as the Pope asked us to.
By God’s providence, we mourned the Holy Father, Pope Francis, close to all of you, with the presence of people from so many countries who came to participate in the recent General Congress.
We will strive to orient the path begun in the regional assemblies in light of the horizon the Holy Spirit opens before us through the ministry of Pope Leo XIV; to serve the Church, society, and each person, bringing them the warmth of the Gospel in a world so often marked by the coldness of indifference, the harshness of violence and poverty, and the scourge of loneliness.
Let us accompany the new Roman Pontiff with our affection and prayer, following our Founder’s example. He chose to inscribe these touching words in Villa Tevere, the central headquarters of the Work: “O Rome, how you shine! How splendid you are from here, with such a beautiful view and so many marvellous monuments of antiquity. But your noblest and purest jewel is the Vicar of Christ, of whom you rightfully boast as a unique city.”
On this day, as we celebrate Our Lady of Pompeii and Our Lady of Luján, let us all go with Peter to Jesus through Mary – especially in the pilgrimages you will make with your friends during this month of May – so that He may pour out his blessings on the Pope and on the whole Church.
Your Father blesses you with all his affection.
Rome, May 8, 2025