As almost everyone in the civilized world knows that, as of May 8, 2025, The Catholic community welcomed a new pope, Robert Prevost, who took on the name Pope Leo XIV. He followed the papacy of Pope Francis who was the first pope to identify with Francis of Assisi and returned to the home of his Father on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. He was 88 years old and had served as pope after the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI on February 28, 2013.
Francis, a South American pope, had a special heart for the homeless and the poor. In fact, he declined to live in the papal apartments and, instead, lived in a comparatively austere room outside the main Vatican buildings. Upon his death, his personal estate was valued at less than $100 and in his will, the only thing he discussed was where he was to be buried, with a plain monument engraved with his name… no papal reference, or dates, or anything that signified who was buried in that spot, other than the singular name, Fransiscus. This was in accordance with his wishes to be placed in a modest grave which, according to his will, was arranged for by a benefactor.
It was at this time and place in history that Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the balcony to issue his first blessing and speech as pope. We will have to see how his papacy develops as time goes on.
As many of you know, Pope Leo hails from the south Chicago suburbs, in Dolton, where his family lived. He is a Sox fan, being a southsider, which is quite normal, and neighborhood friends from his youth prophesied that the young boy, Bob, would be the first American pope.
Being from Chicago myself, it is interesting to get the news of what is going on. There are numerous anecdotes, all in good fun, that are being circulated. For example, using ketchup on a hot dog is grounds for excommunication from the church… and there are discussions about the pope supporting “Da Bears” football team. But aside from all the jokes and stories, people are really proud that one of their own has become pope.
It is interesting that he chose the name Leo. Pope Leo XIII served more than 100 years ago and the choice for a name usually reflects some sense of purpose that seems to run through the papal line. In this case, it seems to be the fact the Leo XIII was strongly committed to workers’ rights and social justice. John has been the most common name – Pope John XXIII being the most recent. I remember him from when I was a young boy. Then, Pope Paul VI, John Paul I, who only served for 33 days, John Paul II who was beloved by the masses, Benedict XVI, who was the first pope to resign in 400 years, Francis, and, now Leo XIV.
It should also be noted that the apostle Peter was considered the first pope in the Catholic Church. And in the 266 popes since Peter, not one has chosen to become Peter II. Mainly, this is out of reverence for the position of Peter as an apostle and having walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry. In fact, it is thought that Peter’s grave is directly below St. Peter’s Basilica. Peter, like most of the apostles, was martyred for his beliefs in Jesus and Peter chose to be crucified upside down – not being worthy of being crucified the same way Jesus was.
In seminary, we studied the origins of the churches, primarily the Catholic Church and the Baptist Church. They are built on entirely different models and Christians are divided on which theology they wish to follow. Catholicism has a model of one central church with many branches throughout the world that all follow a liturgical calendar. At the other end of the spectrum, Baptistic theology follows the idea that each church is independent and the pastor of the church is the leader, appointed by God to shepherd his congregation. He is assisted by elders and deacons but discipline, decision making, finances and all other work of the church is controlled by the individual pastor, the undisputed leader of the congregation. These two religious traditions, Catholicism and Baptist, represent the extremes in the Christian faith.
Whereas Catholicism recognizes the pope as the vicar of Christ on earth, the other end of the spectrum looks at individual churches as forming, eventually in heaven, a universal church, where all believers will worship God together. Many other denominations, such as Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian, etc. generally have more hybrid theology and administrative models somewhere between these two extremes.
Our verse for tonight is the verse by Jesus, spoken to Peter, that recognizes Peter’s claim that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus inquires as to who the disciples think He is. Peter responds, in Matthew 16:16-19, “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Even this verse has various interpretations. Catholic theology believes that Jesus mandated that the church be built on Peter, the rock, with Peter being given authority that went beyond whatever had been given before. The opposition would submit that Jesus meant that the church was to be built on Peter’s proclamation that Christ is the Son of the Living God. These variations in belief systems have been discussed and debated for several thousand years.
Be that as it may, my encouragement this evening is that God wants all of us to believe in Him and those who do are blessed beyond measure. My prayer is the Pope Leo XIV will be successful in his earthly ministry and that the church will flourish under his guidance and leadership. I hope that all Christians can unite under this hope – whether Catholic or not. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…