“A moment of grace for the universal Church.” With these words, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV, 267th Pope and Bishop of Rome. The white smoke appeared after the 4th ballot and designated Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo (Peru), as the successor of Saint Peter. Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti pronounced the habemus papam. From the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Leo XIV called for “a disarmed and disarming peace, a humble and preserving peace” and spoke of “a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone,” and emphasised “a synodal Church, a Church on the move, a Church that always strives for peace, that always strives for charity, that always strives to be close, especially to those who suffer.”

The Grand Master declared: “We welcome with gratitude the election of the new Holy Father, Successor of St. Peter and universal leader of the Catholic Church. In this moment of grace for the entire faithful community, I wish to express, on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, our filial devotion and full adherence to Pope’s new Magisterium. We are particularly honoured to have welcomed the then Cardinal as a member of the Order of Malta, seeing this as a sign of a deeper spiritual connection. We pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate his pontificate and give him strength and wisdom in his mission. From this moment, the Order, faithful to its religious vocation and humanitarian mission, assures the Holy Father of its constant support in defending human dignity, in serving the poor and promoting peace.”

Pope Robert Francis Prevost, the first Pontiff from the United States, was born on 14 September, 1955 in Chicago. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977. An expert on social and cultural issues, he gained a deep understanding of the Church in Latin America. Created cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 30 September 2023, Pope Leo XIV repeatedly recalled his predecessor in the words he spoke from the Loggia of Benedictions.

Read the original statement and see more photos here.