On the election of Pope Leo XIV A Message from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan

May 9, 2025

On the evening of May 8, 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican to elect a new pope. In the fourth round of voting on May 7, we elected our brother, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the 267th pope.

In the presence of the College of Cardinals and in response to a question from Cardinal Pietro Parolin representing the cardinals, Cardinal Prevost accepted the results of the election and declared himself “Leo.” It was the birth of Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo is a friar of the Augustinian Order and the first pope from the United States. He is an experienced evangelizer who has served as a missionary and bishop in Peru and as the prior general of the Augustinians. Most recently, he was prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops and is well versed in the role of bishops. Thus, this is the birth of a vigorous shepherd with deep pastoral and administrative knowledge and experience of the Church.

Every day from the day after Pope Francis’ death to the day before the papal election except Sunday and May 1, nearly 180 cardinals attended a General Assembly of the College of Cardinals, and almost all of them, including Cardinal Maeda and myself from Japan, took the opportunity to speak. We repeatedly emphasized our gratitude for Pope Francis’ dedication and ability to act based on his extraordinary depth of spirituality and the need to continue to walk the path that Pope Francis left us.

However, everyone was deeply aware that the College of Cardinals was not looking for a successor to Pope Francis, but a successor to the Apostle Peter. And so, the cardinals prayed not for the birth of a second Pope Francis, but for a successor of the Apostle Peter who was entrusted by the Lord Himself to be the shepherd, a successor who would faithfully lead the Church. Many cardinals emphasized the importance of unity in the Church with clarity in faith while respecting diversity.

It remains to be seen what kind of pastoral path Pope Leo will pursue. He may take a different path than Pope Francis. There will probably be a lot that he will carry forth. Amid such a reality for the Church, let us pray daily for Pope Leo, that Peter’s successor will have abundant blessings, protection, and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

In his first speech in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo preached the importance of establishing the peace of Christ. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue and encounter. He stressed the importance of walking together. It was Leo XIII who published the encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891 that became the basis of the social teaching in the modern Church. I believe that our Pope who has inherited the name of Leo has strong feelings about the Church’s influence on society.

Let us listen to the voice of our Pope and walk together with him from now on.

I also ask that you pray for us cardinals who support and accompany our Pope.