Pope Leo XIV does not hide his tearful emotion at his election but then, neither does the beaming Cross bearer who is happy with God’s choice.
Despite Pope Francis’ last long hospital stay, we found the news of his sudden passing after a stroke unexpected. Masses and prayers were offered in our Chapel for his repose of soul and the entire Church prepared for Pope Francis’ funeral and the conclave. It was a busy time.
But one benefactor was thinking ahead to the next Pope in a special way. We received an email that they had made a donation to enter a priest’s name into our Mary, Mother of Priests Tribute Garden. The only “difficulty” was that no one yet knew his name, ordination date, diocese or religious order, and not even the country he was serving in as a priest. These are all items filled out on the online donation form when submitting a priest’s name. All those fields had to be left blank because the donor wanted the next priest added to our panels in the Garden to be the new Pope.
Now that we finally have a new Pope, we are happy to share that Pope Leo XIV is in the Mary, Mother of Priests Tribute Garden. May Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy and Mother of Priests wrap him closely in her mantle of love and protection. VIVA IL PAPA!