Cardinal Nichols: ‘No rancour or competitiveness’ in vote for Pope
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has described how there was a “distinct absence of grandeur and self-importance” among the cardinals as they met in the conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV. Speaking in his Sunday morning homily in the chapel of the Venerable English College in Rome, he said the sealed space in the conclave, with no phones or contact with the outside world, was “a precious space”. He said: “It was peaceful. There was no clamour. There was attentiveness to each other. In fact, I was a bit sorry when it ended, because there was so much more time to use creatively and to give generously. It suggests that we might all benefit from a day a week without our phones, and allow that inner freedom to flourish again.” In an account contrary to the wheeler dealing portrayed in the film “Conclave”, Cardinal Nichols said: “There was, I tell you, no rancour. There was no competitiveness. There were no harsh words, no denigration of one another, and no expressions of ambition. There was a shared knowledge that the decision, the prize, was a Cross – a death to self and a most intense self-sacrifice into service. That we all knew and prayed for the one to whom it would be given.”
RMC briefing – Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?
In our Religion Media Centre briefing, a panel of Catholic journalists, campaigners and leaders, spoke of the buzz of anticipation as Catholics welcome Pope Leo. Made a cardinal only in 2023 and largely unknown, they pieced together clues from previous statements and testimony, which suggested he would be moderate, following Pope Francis’ reforms, a missionary Pope seeking to build bridges and promote dialogue. Leo Devine hosted, with speakers including Ruth Gledhill, Assistant Editor, The Tablet; Dr Robert Jones, president and founder of the US Public Religion Research Institute; Brenden Thompson, CEO Catholic Voices and Christine Allen, Director of CAFOD. View the briefing again or listen to the podcast via links on our website here
Why Pope Leo XIV chose his name
In the first three days of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has given signs of the issues that concern him most and the way he will approach leadership. On Saturday, he told the cardinals that he chose his name “mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution.” The encyclical addressed the conditions of the working class and laid the foundations for subsequent social justice teaching. Pope Leo XIV explained that the industrial revolution in this generation is “developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour”, which has led commentators to see him intending to emphasise reason and truth.
Leo will follow the ‘precious legacy’ of his predecessor Francis
Pope Leo indicated he will build upon Pope Francis’ legacy. He told the cardinals: “It has been clearly seen in the example of so many of my predecessors, and most recently by Pope Francis himself, with his example of complete dedication to service and to sober simplicity of life, his abandonment to God throughout his ministry and his serene trust at the moment of his return to the Father’s house. Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith.” He indicated he would lead alongside the cardinals, whose presence with him was a reassurance “that the Lord, who has entrusted me with this mission, will not leave me alone in bearing its responsibility.”
For his first trip outside the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian, chose to visit the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome, which has been run by the Augustinians since 1200. He told the people gathered there that he “wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry”. Later, he prayed at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis, at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
From St Peter’s Square, Pope’s powerful plea ‘No more war’
On his first Sunday address in St Peter’s Square, the Pope addressed cheering crowds echoing a cry for peace, with the words: “Never Again War”. He said he carried in his heart “the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people”, he was “deeply pained” by the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and he welcomed peace between India and Pakistan. And he recited the Regina Caeli, a chant to the Virgin Mary. It was also the final day of the Jubilee pilgrimage of members of bands and popular entertainment, with bands present in the square, and the world day of prayer for vocations, a reminder, he said, for all to live in service to one another and to encourage young people.
Meeting the press
Today (Monday) Pope Leo XIV will meet more than 6,000 journalists and media workers, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, an appointment that is common practice for new popes.
‘OMG, it’s Rob!’
Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is one of three boys, born and brought up in Chicago. The oldest, Louis, couldn’t contain his excitement at hearing the news that his brother, whom everyone calls Rob, had been elected Pope. Later Louis and his other brother, John, told CBS how Robert had always taken his faith seriously from a very young age, and when they saw him emerge on the balcony at St Peter’s Square, as Pope Leo XIV, there was a moment of stunned surprise and then tears of joy.
Other news
Setback in selection of next Archbishop of Canterbury
Canterbury diocese has announced that it has to re-run elections to its “Vacancy in See” committee, from which three representatives will be drawn for the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC), which will select the next Archbishop of Canterbury. In a statement, it says Rule 75 of the Church Representation Rules was not correctly applied to an earlier election, so it has to be re-run. The setback is likely to have an impact on the timetable for the appointment. It had been envisaged that the CNC members would be known in March and the first meeting would be in May. The whole process was intended to be complete by November – a year since Justin Welby resigned. Anglican Ink article here . Times article here
Joint statement: ‘Jews and Muslims are formidable when they work together’
The President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, and the Chief Imam Scotland, Dr Sayed Razawi, Director-General and Chief Imam, Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, have published a joint declaration in Jewish News, saying that Jews and Muslims are formidable when they work together. They say: “Because of differing views – most notably around events in the Middle East – there’s a widespread perception that Jewish and Muslim communities cannot, or should not, work together. But we have far more in common than divides us. It would be a mistake not to collaborate on issues of shared concern.” They point to the freedom of worship, observation of religious laws and preparation of food as issues which concern both traditions. Defending the practice of circumcision, ensuring burial rights can be observed and allowing religious practice in animal slaughter, are concerns that both traditions can defend. The article says there has been strength in united action, proposed in the Drumlanrig Accords agreement for Muslim–Jewish collaboration, and extended in the Optimistic Alliance, launched last year to bring the communities’ leaders together in common cause. Article is here
Council U-turns on ban for street preachers ‘causing alarm and distress’
Rushmoor borough council, in Hampshire, has withdrawn attempts to ban Christian street preachers from the town centres of Farnborough and Aldershot. An injunction application last February, would have banned preaching, praying for people without their permission, handing out leaflets or Bibles, or laying hands on anyone in prayer even if they consented. It would also have banned preaching which was hostile towards anyone with the protected characteristic of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. The Telegraph reports that the council said it took action because preachers were being offensive and causing alarm and distress to passers-by. But it was accused of attempting to criminalise Christians and has U-turned. It has now discussed a voluntary code of conduct for street preachers to limit distress to passers-by. The Telegraph says: “The preachers maintain that being seen as ‘hostile’ is unavoidable when attempting to convince non-believers of the truth of Christianity.” Full story is here
Bishop of Carlisle finally appointed after almost two year wait
The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh has been appointed as the next Bishop of Carlisle. In May 2022, he was appointed the Bishop of Penrith and has been the acting Bishop of Carlisle since September 2023. A process to elect a bishop for Carlisle in December 2023 was one of several appointments where there was a failure to agree. Bp Saner-Haigh has spent all but two years of his ministry in Cumbria.
