LISTEN | Archbishop Aquila Reflects on Election of Pope Leo XIV on KOA's Morning News
- Denver Catholic Staff
- May 9
- 2 min read
Following the election of the first U.S.-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila joined Marty Lenz and Jeana Gondek on KOA's Morning News to discuss the historic moment in the life of the Church.
Archbishop Aquila recounted his surprise upon seeing the white smoke rise to the heavens after only four votes. With how quickly the conclave elected someone, he assumed the new pope would be Italian — an assumption that compounded the surprise when Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV, stepped out onto the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.
The surprise quickly made way for joy and hope, the archbishop said, especially upon hearing the new pontiff's first address, which emphasized the peace that only the Risen Christ can give and the responsibility of every Christian to proclaim Jesus Christ.
With Pope Leo XIV's background as a religious, missionary, pastor, linguist and administrator, he will surely help bolster, restore and renew the Church, all while preaching the Gospel and building bridges, Archbishop Aquila said. Pope Leo XIV's humility, on full display on the loggia of St. Peter's Thursday, and his service to the poor will certainly bring a fresh new dimension to the perennial question posed to the Church: How do we bring the Gospel into the world today — especially with the zeal that the early Church had?
"He made clear that proclaiming the Risen Christ is the essential mission entrusted to us," the archbishop said of the self-proclaimed "son of Augustine."
"All of us, our mission as Christians, as Catholics, is to proclaim Jesus Christ," Archbishop Aquila later continued.
As the new pope begins his Petrine ministry, Archbishop Aquila encouraged the faithful to trust in the Lord and to pray for Pope Leo XIV.
