Accepto.
With this one simple Latin word – literally, I accept — Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, Chicago native, a priest of the religious order known as the Augustinians, missionary to Peru, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops of the Roman curia, ceased to be.
Sitting in his place was Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, Pontiff – bridge builder – of the Catholic Church.
Although outwardly he looked the same as he had as the votes were being counted, when the magic number of 89 was reached, ensuring his election, all my brother cardinals and I who were gathered in the Sistine Chapel looked at him differently.
Sede Vacante, the time known as “the empty chair” was over. The Church once again had a “papa,” a Holy Father. And we, along with the rest of the world, rejoiced.
It was a little more than two weeks since we had lost Pope Francis, and we still mourned his passing. But during the past 17 days, my brother cardinals and I had been meeting daily, discussing the strengths of the Church as we saw it from our perspective, the challenges we continue to face, and what kind of person we needed to lead us.
During those many hours of meetings, at coffee breaks, or over lunch or dinner, I was often asked by other cardinals, “Tell me about Cardinal Prevost. What kind of man is he?”
I had to reply that, in all honesty, I did not know him. I knew of him, of course, and what I had heard had impressed me greatly. A somewhat shy individual; a good listener; someone who spoke several languages; a priest with broad experience in Latin America; a former leader of his religious order; and, finally, someone who had spent the last few years in Rome, familiar with the workings of the bureaucracy that is the Roman Curia.
“He runs a good meeting,” one cardinal said. Not a bad compliment, as most of us do not!
Another added, “he hears everyone out, but is able to make a decision when one is needed.”
Still another, “he has a deep love for the poor.”
I did have the opportunity to have breakfast with him one morning prior to the vote that elected him Pope. He was open and engaging, and we swapped some stories about my hometown of Saint Louis, where he had lived during his novitiate with the Augustinian order.
I came away impressed.
Later, in the Sistine Chapel, I was seated directly behind Cardinal Prevost, and I realized that I had forgotten an important question.
Leaning over, I whispered “Don Roberto” – Italian for “Father Robert,” a traditional greeting for Italian priests, including cardinals – “Cubs or White Sox?”
Looking back at me, he said “I’m a South Sider – White Sox for me.”
As a loyal Saint Louis Cardinals fan, I was very relieved he was not a fan of those dreaded Cubs!
Here in America, Sunday is Mother’s Day, and I gratefully recall my own dear Mom, whom I trust and pray is now in heaven with Jesus. As Saint Mother Teresa would often say, Catholics have three mothers: our own natural mothers, of course, who we love deeply; our Heavenly Mother, Mary, who Jesus made our mother from the Cross; and Holy Mother Church.
It is also the fourth Sunday after Easter, which Catholics celebrate as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” after the one true and eternal shepherd, Jesus.
The Latin word for shepherd is pastor, and Holy Mother Church rejoices that we once again have a universal pastor here on earth in Pope Leo, even as we pray for a much-needed increase in vocations to the priesthood, a topic that came up frequently during our daily discussions of the challenges facing the Church.
What can we expect from a Pope Leo papacy? I would imagine that, fairly soon, we will see things that remind us of Pope Francis, things that remind us of Pope Saint John Paul II, still others that remind us of Benedict XVI, Paul VI, or Saint John XXIII.
But as the Italian saying goes, “you got to make gnocchi with the dough you got” and I expect that, soon, comparisons with popes of the past will cease, and we will begin to say “Ah . . . that Pope Leo. I love him. We’re so fortunate to have him as our Holy Father.”
It’s only been three days, but I feel that way already.