Bishop Lawrence Persico speaks on election of Pope Leo XIV

Yahoo

09-05-2025

As Catholics throughout the world celebrate the selection of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Diocese of Erie weighed in on the historic election of Cardinal Robert Prevost.
It came as a surprise to many that the new pontiff selected was born in the United States for the first time in the history of the Church.
Bishop Persico echoed that surprise, but said the cardinals made a great choice.
Bishop Persico said Pope Leo brings with him a wealth of pastoral experience and appears to be a more reserved man who looks to be committed to building bridges with others and wants to unite and heal people.
Who is Robert Prevost, the American-born Pope Leo XIV
He's a person maybe known by some, but not the type of person to be in the news a lot. Many familiar with the new pope said, despite his being born in Chicago, he's not as American as you might think.
For most of his priesthood and life, been in South America and Europe, giving him the ability to unify the Church across continents.
Persico said it will be interesting to see how he's perceived around the world.
'I think this is something we'll have to watch and see how this unfolds. I think it's a little too early to tell how it will be perceived. I'm sure many people are scrambling right now, especially in different countries, trying to find out who he is and what he is about. Time will tell us,' Bishop Persico said.
Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova University alum: What we know
The Diocese of Erie is encouraging people to attend masses offered for the intentions of the Pope. They're expected to start Monday. We'll announce the times for those services when we hear them.
Bishop Persico's full remarks are as follows:
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
With profound gratitude and heartfelt joy, I write to you today as the universal church welcomes Pope Leo XIV's election as its new Holy Father.
Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the 267th successor to Saint Peter. In the wake of Pope Francis's passing, our prayers have been answered, and the Holy Spirit guided our choice of our new pontiff.
Pope Leo, the first American elected to the papacy, brings a wealth of pastoral experience and a deep commitment to the Gospel. There is great anticipation that our new bishop, a faithful shepherd whose spirit of peace and commitment to building bridges, will guide us toward greater unity, healing and hope.
His experience in South America, particularly Peru, and Europe gives him a unique perspective on unifying the church across continents. Though relatively new to the College of Cardinals, he is a spiritual leader serving as prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, a prominent role in the Catholic Church.
As we embark on this new chapter, let us unite in prayer for our Holy Father, that he may be granted wisdom, strength and grace to lead the Catholic Church in these times.
I encourage each of you to participate in this momentous occasion by attending Masses offered for the intentions of Pope Leo, and by including him in your prayers. May we, as a diocesan family, support our new Pope through our faith and sense of community.
Let us also remember the words of Pope Francis, who reminded us that 'the church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open.' May we continue to embody this spirit of openness and love in our communities.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, JCL
Bishop of Erie
Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico on the announcement of Pope Leo XIV.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.