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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solons past and present welcome election of Pope Leo XIV

Solons past and present welcome election of Pope Leo XIV

Published May 9, 2025 09:36 am

At A Glance

  • House of Representatives members past and present have welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
House of Representatives members past and present have welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Leading the well-wishers was House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who called the election of Pope Leo XIV as a reaffirmation of the Catholic Church’s enduring mission. He also called the development a source of renewed hope, and a sign of continuity in pastoral leadership for the faithful worldwide.

“We welcome with deep joy and reverence the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His life of missionary service, unwavering commitment to the marginalized, and resolute pursuit of justice reflect the best of what the Catholic Church can offer in these times of uncertainty,” Romualdez said.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, became the 267th Pope and the first American to lead the Catholic Church. He brings with him a lifetime of missionary service and pastoral leadership shaped largely by his work in Latin America.

Romualdez noted that Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral approach echoes the legacy of Pope Francis, known lovingly to Filipinos as “Lolo Kiko".

“Like Lolo Kiko, Pope Leo XIV carries the Gospel with humility and courage, entering the papacy with quiet strength. In an age of clamor, he reminds us that humility is power, and service is the highest form of leadership,” said the leader of the 306-member House of Representatives.

“We join the billions of Catholics around the world in thanking God for the election of Pope Leo XIV,” Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said following the announcement from the Vatican that Prevost had been chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis.

“Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen to carry the heavy holy burden once carried by Peter. Just as our Lord told Peter to ‘strengthen your brothers', we now look to Pope Leo XIV to guide, inspire, and confirm us in the faith," Acidre said.

The assistant majority leader also paid tribute to the service and spiritual legacy of Pope Francis. “We are grateful, too, for the life and witness of Pope Francis—who taught us how to love more, hope more, and serve more deeply.”

“We now pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. May the Lord bless him with wisdom, courage, and compassion as he leads the Church in these challenging times," he said.

Former House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate expressed similar hope on the emergence of the first Pope from the United States (US).

"We trust that he (Pope Leo XIV) will build upon Pope Francis’ legacy of a compassionate and inclusive Church, with particular attention to the marginalized and the poor, informed by the Augustinian tradition of community, justice, and truth-seeking," he said.

"Following the example of Pope Leo XIII, we also hope he will be a strong champion of the working class and a tireless  advocate for social justice," added Zarate.

"May his pontificate bring a renewed commitment to the Gospel tenets of mercy, solidarity, and the dignity of all peoples," he further said.



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