During this Jubilee Year, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. On May 9, 2024, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, officially declared 2025 as a Jubilee Year with the Bull of Indiction, SPES NON CONFUNDIT “Hope does not disappoint,” a familiar phrase taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 5:5. We could not predict that exactly one year later, we would be welcoming a new Holy Father to lead our global Church of 1.4 billion Catholics. Most of us will only experience the transition of leadership in the Church a couple of times in one’s lifetime. An emotional period where both mourning and joy come together to forge a new path forward. We mourned the loss of Pope Francis who taught us to embrace each other and our world in merciful bonds of human fraternity. Following the period of mourning and his moving funeral, the Cardinal electors entered the Conclave to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church. We did not have to wait long, as on the second day of voting Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV. The first American Pope as well!
Hand in hand
In his first address from the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV paid homage to his predecessor, by a reference to Pope Francis’ last Urbi et Orbi message just two weeks earlier on Easter morning. He says, “God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail!” Pope Leo continued with “Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and each other, let us move forward.” This phrase…united hand in hand with God and each other, let us move forward…I believe is a profound statement that may offer us a glimpse into Pope Leo’s hopes for our global Church. Walking hand in hand brings an image of solidarity, community, and strength. Our personal journey can appear at times to be “alone,” as we grind through life’s challenges and struggles. But are we ever actually alone?
With God and Each Other
A dear friend of mine, Carmelite priest Fr. Jack Welch, once spoke to me about the reality of being alone. We were on retreat at the beautiful Benedictine monastery, St. Bernard Abbey in Alabama. He was the retreat master, and I was his ride to the airport and a retreat participant. One afternoon between talks, we took a walk together around the monastery grounds. Our conversation covered the customary topics of sports, politics, and faith. I was discerning a possible new chapter in my life and struggling to find a clear path forward. It was obvious that following God’s will meant completely following Jesus, without fear and hesitation. I had committed to this path many years earlier, but now I was feeling “alone” and fearful. Fr. Jack said very simply. “No matter where you find yourself next, God is always, already there.” We are never really alone, as God’s hand is outstretched to welcome us and guide us. In his first remarks to the 1.4 billion Catholics across the world, Pope Leo was saying reach out, take a hand…a neighbor, a friend, a stranger…and trust that God is already there.
Forward…¡Adelante!
Although these were the first remarks of our new Pope, I sincerely believe that words matter. He was very careful to encourage us, and to remind us that we are not alone, and that we need God and each other to face this journey. Notice at the end of the quote, Pope Leo offered a little nudge to us who might be wondering what is next. He said, “let us move forward.” In Spanish, this phrase can be summed up in one word – ¡Adelante! For the man born and educated in Chicago, who then spent decades in missionary service in Peru, I wonder if this is what he was thinking as he was preparing to walk out onto the balcony of St. Peters. ¡Adelante! This is just speculation on my part, but as a Church, we always move forward, toward Christ our light. Forward is the only direction when walking in faith.
Despite the challenges and struggles facing our world, or the very real challenges facing us each day on our personal journey…we are never alone. God is always, already there, and we are encouraged to move forward in hope – ¡Adelante con Esperanza!
“God Loves us. God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands, therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and each other – let us move forward.” Pope Leo XIV, May 8, 2025.
Kelley Henderson T.O.C
Kelley Henderson is a Third Order Lay Carmelite who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services in Columbus Ohio, USA. He also serves in volunteer leadership roles with Catholic Charities USA(USA), The Order of Carmelites(USA and Italy), and the Mission and Culture Committee at Mt. Carmel Health System in Ohio(USA).
