The Pope's Coronation

Coronation of Pope Pius XII in 1939

Formerly, the coronation or enthronement ceremony included crowning the pope with the papal tiara or "triregnum," a golden crown composed of three overlapping crowns, a symbol of spiritual, temporal and supreme power. The last pontiff to wear it was Pope Paul VI in 1963, after which he decided he would give up its use, though he left it to his successors to reintroduce it. Today, Paul VI's tiara is kept at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The papal tiara is made of gold, decorated with sacred images and precious stones. Pope Leo XIV will be crowned with the mitre instead of the tri-regnum. 

Pope Paul VI being crowned with a tri-regnum in 1963

The second item he will receive is the pallium, a strip of white wool with five red embroidered crosses, a symbol of pastoral mission and communion with the universal church: the pallium is woven by the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Urbe in Trastevere, Rome. It is made from the wool of two lambs from Trappist monks, and the Pope would bless the lambs on Jan. 21, the feast of St. Agnes. The pallium is fastened with three pins resembling the nails of the cross, and is worn on the shoulders. All the Archbishops are given one to use when they celebrate Mass, and the crosses are in black. The fisherman's ring represents the link with St. Peter and the Pope's apostolic mission. The ring is made of pure gold, engraved with St. Peter's boat surrounded by the new pope's name. The ring was formerly used as a seal for papal documents, the ring is now a symbol that is broken, destroyed or cancelled upon the pontiff's death. A week later, on Sunday, May 25, at 5 p.m., Leo will take possession of the Roman "cathedra" (bishop's chair) at the Lateran Basilica. The ceremony will formally complete the beginning of his papacy, symbolically reaffirming the bond between the Pope and the Diocese of Rome.

3 Ordinations

Fr Matthew, Fr Johan and Fr Shawn

The church in Malta rejoices today as three young men are being ordained priests in St John’s Cathedral in Valletta. We remember them in our prayers as they start their pastoral service, which may include some more academic studies. The three new priests are: Fr. Matthew Sammut, 25 years old from Pemborke, a diocesan priest; Fr. Johan Bugeja SDB, 33 years old from Gharghur, a member of the Salesian order; and  Fr. Shawn Wong, 35 years old, originally from Singapore, but studying in Malta since 2016, a member of the ICPE Mission. This ordination coincides with the start of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as he will be crowned tomorrow at the Vatican. The number of vocations have dwindled in Malta over the last few years. When I was in the Seminary in the 1970s, we were over 80 seminarians living together and studying, spread around 4 courses, ordained respectively in 1972, 1974, 1977 (my class) and 1979. Presently there are 6 seminarians and  a few students in various religious orders. Unfortunately Malta has now become a mission country when we have to import priests to help run our parishes. I have been suggesting over the last 9 years that parishes should introduce an English Mass at least on a Sunday, since most people prefer a Maltese Mass, they will however have to get used to following Mass in English, unless the foreign priests who will eventually come from Africa, India, Korea and Vietnam, among others, will have to learn Maltese, which is a difficult language to learn. Of course I celebrate an English Mass, along with the other 4 Masses in Maltese I celebrate on the weekend. Ad Multos Annos to the 3 new priests.

Tri-Regnum

With Pope Leo’s coronation on Sunday, the celebration is much different than what it was in the past, at least until 1963. Now the coronation is with a mitre, the shepherd’s ring and the pallium. But in the past, the coronation was with a tri-regnum, a heavy crown that stopped with Pope Paul VI. He actually was crowned with it, but he decided to sell it for charity. It is presently in a Museum in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. On Christmas Day 1964, Paul VI gave a blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the City and the World ) wearing the bishop’s mitre. Never again did he or any of his successors choose to wear a tiara or a tri-regnum (three-tiered crown.) That was the last time the tri-regnum was used. It is called tri-regnum since it has three levels of gems and precious jewels, and is obviously very heavy. 

Pope St Paul VI wearing the tri-regnum crown

Apart from John Paul I, all of Paul VI’s successors had (still have) their own tiaras. In each case, they were given as a gift to the popes: John Paul II received the tiara in 1981 from the faithful from Hungary; In 2011, Dieter Philippi, a German businessman and famous collector of headgear, gave Benedict XVI a tiara made by a factory specializing in creating liturgical vestments for the Byzantine liturgy; while in 2016, Francis was presented with the tiara by the then president of the Macedonian parliament. None of these tiaras have ever been used or publicly displayed.

Leo XIV on social media

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his presence on social media through the official papal accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, the Vatican Dicastery for Communication announced yesterday. Leo XIV inherited the @Pontifex account on X, which had been previously managed by Pope Francis and, before him, Pope Benedict XVI. The account, which communicates in nine languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic and Latin — has amassed a following of 52 million users. Messages shared by Francis during his pontificate will be preserved in a dedicated archive section on the  Vatican’s official website. On Instagram, Pope Leo XIV will be present under the account name @Pontifex — Pope Leo XIV. This platform continues the legacy of Francis' @Franciscus account. In a gesture of remembrance, content from @Franciscus will remain accessible as an "Ad Memoriam" commemorative archive. The Vatican announced emphatically that Leo will maintain an "active social media presence." In fact, at 4:30 p.m. local time on May 14, Leo published his first Instagram post in his new account, greeting all the faithful in the world in a short message inspired by his first public appearance on May 8, that starts with "Peace be with you all!" The Vatican's engagement with social media began under Benedict XVI on Dec. 12, 2012, when the @Pontifex account was launched. It marked a historic step for the church's communication strategy, bringing the papal voice to a global digital audience. Francis used these platforms extensively, publishing around 50,000 posts across both accounts. His messages, often focused on themes of peace, social justice and environmental stewardship, resonated widely. During the height of the global pandemic in 2020, papal messages generated exceptional engagement, with 27 billion views recorded that year alone. Leo's decision to continue this digital presence suggests a commitment to maintaining direct communication with the faithful and broader global audiences.

The Augustinians

A group of Augustinians with Pope Francis - Pope Leo XIV is on his left.

Since Pope Leo XIV is Augustinian, it’s fitting that we write something about this order of monks and sisters. The photo above actually shows a large group of Augustinian monks during an audience with Pope Francis, with Fr Robert Prevost on his left, and Cardinal Prospero Grech, a Maltese cardinal on his right.  During the early 5th century, St. Augustine, after a turbulent childhood and teenage years, he began living a monastic life with fellow priests in Northern Africa. This way of living was attractive to many priests, who gathered around Augustine in a monastic community. He wrote a list of guidelines to govern the community that later became known as the "Rule of St. Augustine." By the 13th century there sprung up the Order of Saint Augustine, inspired by Augustine's rule, a more structured religious order. The order was officially founded in 1244, and is known as the Order of St. Augustine, Augustinians, with the acronym after each father’s name O.S.A. The emblem of the Order of Saint Augustine is a flaming heart pierced by an arrow on the background of an open book. The open book suggests a dedication to a search for knowledge, both divine and earthly, and calling us to a continual growth of faith, hope and love in our lives.  The Augustinian Order is split up into provinces in almost 50 countries throughout the world. Some famous Augustinians are: St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Boniface, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Thomas of Villanova, St. Fulgentius of Ruspe. We may also mention his mother St Monica, who prayed all through her life for her son's conversion. The Order of Saint Augustine today includes some 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries throughout the world.

The young Pope Leo XIV

Year-old baby Robert Prevost

It’s fitting to go back to the mid-1950s and check on that household in Dolton, Chicago, Illinois and see those Prevost boys and see some of their cute childhood photos. The first photo shows little Rob probably on his first birthday, which would be September 14, 1956. The second one is at the same time, as he is placed in one of the apple baskets I remember in the fall season. The third photo shows the three boys, with Rob the youngest on the left, and John and Louis the other two. Both his brothers were interviewed right after Rob’s election and they recollect how they always played with guns, marbles, sling-shots and baseballs, while their younger brother wanted to play church, and begged them to participate with him. Yes, inside his childhood home, the future Pope “played” Mass, using his mother’s ironing board as a pretend altar and candy Necco wafers as pretend hosts. On the street outside, lined with trees and similar small-size lots, he rode his bike with the neighborhood kids and joined in games like ‘Red Rover.’ They also agreed on the fact that they hardly ever gave a hard time to their parents, mainly because they were strict with them and handled any problem right away. 

Little Rob, and with his older siblings John and Louis (click to enlarge)

They all went to baseball games, especially the Chicago White Sox whom they favored, rather than Chicago Cubs. They often went with other altar-boys as a reward for their best behavior, probably led by their parish priest. They hung out together until their teenage years, but then once Rob joined the Augustinians, they would only see him on holidays and whenever he visited home. Their home was modest: a simple, square, red-brick Cape Cod house, the kind lived in by tens of thousands of other middle- and working-class Chicago families in the post-World War II housing boom. Their mother Mildred died in June 1990, and their father Louis died in November 1997.

Pope Leo’s coat-of-arms

Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms offers a clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church. The shield is divided diagonally into two sections. The upper half features a blue background with a fleur-de-lys. The lily has always been the symbol of fertility and purity, and in Christianity it symbolizes the Blessed Mother (though it can also refer to the Trinity). The Pope's devotion to the Virgin Mary was evident from his first appearance, when he referred to the Madonna of Pompeii and asked the crowd to recite an Ave Maria with him.. The lower half of the shield has a light background and displays an image that recalls the Order of Saint Augustine: a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow. This is a direct reference to the conversion experience of Saint Augustine himself, who described his personal encounter with God’s Word using the phrase: “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo” – “You have pierced my heart with your Word.” Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” He said “I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.” Eventually the pallium will be added in the lower part of the image, probably with red crosses instead of black.

Mother’s Day

Margherita Sarto and her young son Giuseppe, the future Pius X

As we wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, grandmothers and godmothers, I share with you a touching story about one of our recent Popes. Giuseppe Sarto was the future Pope St. Pius X and he was very close to his mother Margherita. She was actually still alive when he became a Bishop, and was consecrated on November 16, 1884 in Rome. A few days later, the humble bishop went back to Riese to visit his mother. She kissed his ring devoutly and reverently, and then with a smile she said, "But you would not have this fine ring, son, if I did not have this one." And she showed him her worn wedding ring, and demanded that he would also kiss that wedding ring she had since she married Giuseppe’s father. I wish a Happy Mother's day to everyone who visit my blog.

A life of sacrifice

When You Saw the White Smoke…Did you rush to post, to speculate, or to celebrate power? Don’t let the moment be reduced to pageantry or headlines. Kneel. And pray. Because the man who appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica is not ascending to a throne—he is accepting a cross. He is not a victor in the worldly sense, but a servant called to bear the burdens of a broken and weary world.

Before he faces the cheering crowds, he may be alone in a quiet room next to the Sistine Chapel—the “Chapel of Tears”—where many popes have wept. There, overwhelmed, he may whisper a simple, trembling prayer: “Why me?” He will think of his shortcomings. He will feel unworthy. But God does not call the strong—He strengthens those He calls. And mercy, not merit, will guide this man forward.

He will carry the full weight of Peter’s office.

He will grow weary.

He will often suffer in silence.

He will age under the weight of responsibility—perhaps faster than expected.

He will not enjoy a life of ease.

He will likely die in service, giving everything until the end.

The world may never fully see the depth of his sacrifice, but his soul will feel it each day. So when you saw the white smoke, I hope you remembered: it does not only announce a new pope. It marks the beginning of a sacred burden. Pray for him. He is not stepping into glory—he is walking into a life of sacrifice.

Pope Leo XIV - a biography

                  

Born: September 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Ordained priest June 19, 1982

Consecrated Bishop: December 12, 2014

Elevated to Cardinal: September 30, 2023

Elected Pope: May 8, 2025

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected after 4 votes on May 8, 2025, taking the name of Leo XIV. He has a missionary spirit, who travelled around the world being the Augustinian prior general of the order. He had to visit all the various communities belonging to the Augustinian order, including Malta. He also visited Malta recently when they had a meeting among various bishops and celebrated Mass at the Mosta basilica. His missionary spirit was emphasized by the fact that he spoke in fluent Italian, also in Spanish but didn’t say a work in English – which comes to show that he has a different vision about his mission at hand.

 

Childhood photos of Robert Prevost - click on each photo to enlarge

The Prevost family — Louis, an educator, Mildred, a librarian, and their sons Louis, John and Robert — were well-known at bustling St. Mary of the Assumption as dedicated and devout musicians, altar boys, lectors and volunteers, growing up in the southern edge of Chicago. Robert’s education took him to several schools which have all since closed, Mendel College Prep High School, where Prevost and his mother worked; St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan; Tolentine College in Olympia Fields, the suburb where he briefly lived; and Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago Heights, where his father was principal. His mother was also well educated, receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education. Two of her sisters were nuns. All their peers remember both parents as very hard-working in the parish, in the sacristy, parish choirs, fund-raising. Robert’s classmates refer to him as  the ‘smartest student in the class.’ He then left home for St. Augustine Seminary High School, also run by priests in the Order of St. Augustine, then went on to Villanova University, outside Philadelphia, for an undergraduate degree in mathematics. In 1977, he graduated, joined the Augustinians and began work toward his master of divinity degree at the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park. He also received both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His doctoral thesis was on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.”

Since taking his vows, though, Prevost has spent most of his career overseas.  He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982 in Rome. Fr. Robert was sent in 1985 to Peru as a missionary, community prior and professor. He was consecrated Bishop on December 12, 2014. In 1999, Prevost was elected the head of the Augustinians' Chicago-based province. And then in 2001, he tapped as prior general of the worldwide order, which he led until 2013. During that time, he was based in Rome but spent most of his time on the road and in the air, visiting the nearly 50 countries where the Augustinian order is present.

 

Click on these photos of Robert Prevost to enlarge - Villanova graduate, newly ordained.

In 2014, Francis sent him back into the mission field, naming him bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, where he served until the Pope called him to Rome again for full-time service in the Roman Curia in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. In Rome, Prevost enjoys a reputation for industriousness, spending as much time working to identify new bishops as he does in dealing with problem cases. He is a polyglot who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and can read Latin and German, giving him abilities to communicate with his fellow cardinals in ways that others cannot. When he speaks, he does so with caution and great deliberation. A private man with a reserved style, he will not score high on the charm offensive. But his steely determination and clarity might comfort those looking for a leader who knows where he wants to go and how to get there.  He's also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. Pope Leo in October 2024 said that a "bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and to suffer with them."

    

The name he chose is also very significant. Pope Leo the Great brought great unity in the church in the 5th century when the church was theologically very divided, even going as far as confronting Attila when he tried to invade Rome. On the other hand Pope Leo XIII who reigned between 1878 and 1903 was eminent in his social work, had a missionary spirit and wrote the classic social encyclical Rerum Novarum. Leo XIV is ready to build bridges as he said in his initial speech, emphasizing St Augustine’s writings and teachings. Ad Multos Annos Papa Leo

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV

We have a Pope, American Robert Prevost, Augustinian who spent many years working in Peru. He took the name of Leo XIV. He was born 14 September 1955 (69 years old) in Chicago. He was elevated to Cardinal on September 30, 2023 by Pope Francis.  Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His doctoral thesis was on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.”

His career in the Church has been marked by significant roles and achievements. After his ordination as a priest in 1982, Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986. He spent the year 1987 to 1988 in the United States as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago before returning to Peru where he spent the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teaching canon law in the diocesan seminary, where he was also prefect of studies. He also served in other capacities there, including as a parish pastor, diocesan official, director of formation, seminary teacher, and judicial vicar. In 1999, he returned to Chicago and was elected provincial prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province in the archdiocese. Two and a half years later he was elected prior general of the Augustinian and served two terms until 2013.

Holy Smoke

The church celebrates today the feast of Our Lady of Pompeii, made popular by Blessed Bartolo Longo, who in 1883 was instrumental in building the basilica in honor of Mary in Pompeii. But the world’s attention is going to be on that chimney above the Sistine chapel from now on. Since there will be 4 votings daily, the times when the ballots will be burned are approximately these: after 10:30 AM and after 12 noon in the morning session; and after 5:30 PM and after 7 PM in the evening sessions. However, since there are 133 electors, it may take a little longer than originally anticipated, as was the case last night. The black smoke appeared at 9 PM local time, 2 hours later than expected. So let’s just be patient. For a Pope to be elected he has to receive 89 votes, or two-thirds of the 133 total votes, corresponding to each cardinal present. In the homily before the conclave started yesterday, Cardinal Battista Re said something worth repeating: “We pray that God will give us a Pope according to the heart of God for the good of the church and humanity. May we receive a Pope who can awaken the consciences of everyone, and awaken the spiritual and moral energies in the modern society characterized by the great technological advances but tends to forget about God.” An interesting thought crossed my mind this morning. We read that Zachariah, whose wife Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, 2000 years ago could only inform his relatives by creating a bon-fire, and the smoke would let the relatives know that the baby was born. And in this day and age, with cell-phones in every person’s pocket, with email, Whatsapp, Twitter, Facebook, X and Meta and Instagram and so much more, we still have to look at a chimney and wait for the white smoke to learn that a Pope has been elected. In the meantime we wait and pray.

The Conclave starts

The last meeting between all the cardinals held yesterday brought forth many issues they discussed and which they would like to see in the new Pope, as a continuation of what Pope Francis had started.  Among these issues were: legislation on abuse, economic issues, the Roman Curia, synodality, work for peace, and care for creation. They want him to to be a Pontifex, a builder of bridges, a shepherd, a master of humanity, and the face of a Samaritan Church. They further mentioned a need for a Pope of mercy, synodality, and hope, as well the need to tackle the urgent issue of climate change.

Let us pray for the 133 cardinals who will be entering the conclave this afternoon, and will not appear until they have chosen the next Pope, appearing in the balcony of St. Peter’s basilica a few minutes after the white smoke from the chimney has alerted the entire world about the final result. We pray that they will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to discern and make the right decision. Other cardinals have done so over the past 100 years and beyond. We cherished the presence of Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. Each one of them had a special charisma, and each left a tangible mark on the history of the church. May the new Pope would have just an impressive charisma to lead the church over the next 20 to 30 years. I included above this collage of 15 cardinals. Most probably it would be one them, but then again there may be a surprising choice, a name that is not that familiar. Let us pray as the Catholic church waits in anticipation, waiting for that famous phrase ‘Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum, Habemus Papam!’ (I announce to you great news – we have a Pope !)

Worth reflecting on.....

Do more of what you love, less of what you tolerate, and none of what you hate.

We are troubled on every side, but not distressed. We are perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken. Cast down but not destroyed.

Always be like a tree. Keep your head high. Your feet down to earth. And be ready to give shade to others.

It is strange that WORDS and SWORD have the same letters. And even more strange that they have the same effect if not handled properly.

Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it.

A door is larger than a lock. A lock is larger than a key. Yet the key, the smallest of all, has the power to unlock the entire house. Therefore a small and thoughtful solution can solve major problems.

Life is never without a need. Never without a problem. Never without a hurtful moment. But never forget that we have a Loving God who is protecting us, guiding us, helping us to attain a meaningful life.

Support yourself with people who empower you, support you, believe in you, uplift you, motivate you, appreciate you.

Your mind is not a dustbin to keep anger, jealousy and hatred. It is a treasure box to keep love, hope and sweet memories.

The Sistine Chapel

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo

The eyes of the entire world will be focused on one place this week – the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals will be together, locked up until they decide who the next Pope will be. They may be there a few days, or much longer, depending when one cardinal gets two-thirds majority of the votes, that is 89 votes in his favor. On Wednesday there will be only one vote in the evening, but from Thursday onward, there will be 4 voting sessions. We will know when a Pope is elected when we see the white smoke coming out of the famous chimney. But while they wait, and ponder who to vote for, the cardinals have plenty of time to pray, to reflect and to make that one solitary decision that choose one cardinal over another. The Cappella Sistina is situated in the Apostolic Palace, and was named after Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481, later to be magnificently adorned with the paintings by Michelangelo, both in the ceiling and the large Last Judgment fresco, above the main altar.  

 A section of the ceiling painted entirely by Michelangelo

So the cardinals will be reviewing the beginning of creation if they look upwards with a series of frescoes from the creation of Adam to the expulsion from Eden. And looking forward they will meditate on the end of life and the judgment we all have to face at the end of times. On the sides there are other paintings by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, di Cosimo, Signorelli and Rosselli.

What’s coming up...

                   
The Cardinal electors will begin May 7 in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 AM with the pre-conclave votive Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as they elect a new Pope. At 4:30 PM that same afternoon, the 133 Cardinal electors will gather in the Pauline Chapel to pray the Litany of the Saints, before processing into the nearby Sistine Chapel. Following the procession, the Cardinals swear an oath committing each of them to faithfully fulfil the Munus Petrinum as Pastor of the Universal Church, if they are elected. The oath also binds the Cardinal electors to absolute secrecy regarding all details surrounding the election of the new Pope, while promising to rebuff any attempts from outside to sway the election. The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies then proclaims ‘extra omnes,’ ordering everyone not involved in the conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel. Next, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation to the Cardinal electors, in the presence of the Master of Liturgical Ceremonies. Afterwards, both the 90-year-old Cardinal and the Master of Liturgical Ceremonies leave the Sistine Chapel and voting begins. The first ballot will be cast on Wednesday, May 7, in the evening. Throughout the following days, the Cardinal electors will vote four times per day, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. All ballots are burned afterwards, and smoke will rise from what may be the most famous chimney to tell the world whether the new Pope has been elected.

Pope John Paul II and Ferrari

The Ferrari team had a long relationship with various Popes. In 1988, Pope John Paul II was invited to visit their factory and celebrated Mass there. As a gift he was given a car, the 2005 Ferrari Enzo, of which there are only 400. His was actually the last one ever produced. However he asked the Ferrari management to sell the car and its income will go to charity. It was sold quickly and the Pope received a hefty check, which he used for charitable works.

The Cardinals in numbers

There are currently 252 cardinals, 135 of whom are eligible and expected to vote in the conclave, but 2 of them are sick and cannot travel. They range in age from 45 to 99. Pope Francis chose 149 of the current members of the college, most of whom will help choose his successor as cardinal electors. 22 were chosen by Pope Benedict XVI and 5 by John Paul II. The 133 electoral candidates come from 71 different countries. Europe has 53 cardinals, 16 are from North America, 4 from Central America and 17 from South America, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, and 4 from Oceania. Among the Europeans, Italy has 19, France has 6 and Spain has 5. Among all the electors, the youngest is Australian Ukrainian-born Mikola Bychok aged 45, while the oldest is the Spaniard Carlos Osoro Sierra at 79. 50 cardinals were born in the 1940s, 47 in the 1950s, 31 in the 1960s and 6 cardinals were born in the 1970s. The most represented birth year group is 1947 with 13 cardinals aged or approaching 78. Among the cardinals 33 belong to 18 different religious orders. The Salesians have 5, the Franciscan Friar Minors have 4, so do the Jesuits, while 3 are Franciscan Conventuals. There are also 2 Dominicans, 2 Redemptorists, 2 from the Divine Word Missionaries, and one each from Cistercians, Discalced Carmelites, Augustinians and a few others. Believe it or not, while countries like Tonga, Madagascar, Juba, South Sudan, Timor-Leste and Mongolia have a cardinal, the Archdioceses of Paris, Milan and Los Angeles, do not have a cardinal.

St Joseph the Worker

We honor today St Joseph, foster father of Jesus. His liturgical feast is actually celebrated on March 19th, but today we honor him as the patron of workers. Renowned to be a carpenter, Joseph taught the tricks of the trade to his son Jesus, and people invoke his prayers when searching for a job or looking for work. May Day celebrations are held around the world, especially in communist countries, but the Church emphasizes the image of Joseph as the patron of all those who work. Through his intercession, may those who are unemployed find adequate jobs to make a living to support their families. May we also appreciate more the jobs we have and look at them as opportunities to improve the world we live in. May we look at them not only as means to earn a living and get rich, but as a vocation as each of us try to utilize our time and talents at work to create a healthy environment, a place of genuine production and a way to connect with other people, humanly and virtually around the entire world.

Pope St Pius V

Pope St Pius V (1504-1572)

Born Antony Ghislieri on January 17, 1504, he was raised by poor parents and entered the Dominican Order with whom he was ordained in 1528 and taught philosophy and theology in Dominican colleges . He quickly became bishop and Cardinal and followed his predecessor, the easy-going Pope Pius IV in 1566. He started his Papacy by implementing the reform of the Council of Trent. He cleaned up the curia, excommunicated heretical bishops, cleaned up the immorality in the church and swept the church clean – paving the way for the great surge in the church we call the Counter Reformation. He also excommunicated the tyrant Elizabeth I of England and formed the Holy League – a confederation of Catholic armies which eventually defeated the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto. Pius V also instituted the Feast of Our Lady of Victories. Pope Pius V also published the catechism of Trent and improved the breviary and the Roman Missal, which was still being used until 1962. He tried to clean Rome from any immorality, forbidding bull fights and even tried to stop bull fighting from Spain, one of the few things he was unsuccessful in. He died on May 1, 1572 and was canonized by Pope Clement XI in 1712. 

Pope Francis visiting the tomb of Pope St. Pius V

Since he was a Dominican, Pius V frequently kept using the white cassock or habit that Dominicans used, and the custom remained that successive Popes kept using  white, possibly to beat the summer Roman heat. And that is why the Popes still uses white as the color of his cassock. And the first thing Pope Francis did when he was elected Pope was the visit Santa Maria Maggiore and pay tribute to the tomb of Pope St Pius V. And now they are both buried close to each other, along with 6 other Popes. 

Pope Francis’ wisdom

Front page of Newsday Long Island, NY

Francis was not just the Bishop of Rome. He was the pastor who showed us how to have an adult faith. How to follow Jesus even when life gets complicated. How to embrace our doubts rather than fear them. His first word into his papacy were "God never tires of forgiving us." And he made it clear: bad Catholics were welcome. Strugglers were welcome. Sinners were welcome. The Eucharist, Francis taught, was not a prize for the perfect but "medicine for the sick." For a generation raised to believe that holiness was synonymous with flawlessness, Francis offered something radically different and deeply freeing: a Christianity rooted in the grace of mercy. In his every move and gesture, Francis embodied the heart of the Gospel. His famous pectoral cross, a simple image of the Good Shepherd carrying a lost sheep on his shoulders, wasn't just a personal emblem. It was his mission statement. He was the pope who left the ninety-nine to go after the one. For those of us who have ever felt like the one—the doubtful, the sinful, and the disillusioned—he was our Pope. His legacy was not built on grandiosity but on the small, stubborn acts of love and tenderness he encouraged in each of us.

From the start, Francis dared to be different. He carried his own bags. He paid his own hotel bill. He didn’t live in the Papal Palace but in a humble motel room. These simple actions weren't about public relations; they were about reminding us who we are called to be: servants. He made it clear that the Church isn't a museum for the virtuous but a field hospital for the wounded. As his casket disappeared into the Basilica, I noticed something striking: unlike what happened at John Paul’s funeral, the usual chants of "santo subito"—"sainthood immediately"—never rose up.  Francis never sought canonization. He didn't want a pedestal; he wanted us to get closer to Jesus. If the Francis revolution has begun, it is not a matter of monuments. It is a matter of memory, mercy, and movement—and it is our responsibility to carry forward his message that resonated over the past 2 years: to accompany the lonely, to show compassion to the poor, and to hope for an end to war and conflict.

St Gianna Beretta Molla

Born on October 4, 1922, Gianna Beretta was the 10th of 13 children, even though only 8 of the siblings survived infancy. She grew up in Bergamo, Italy where she was very active in the Catholic Action movement. In 1942, in the midst of the chaos of World War II she started her studies in Milan and graduated as a doctor in 1949, specializing in paediatrics. She actually wanted to go to Brazil to work as a paediatrician with her brother, a missionary priest, but her health prevented her from doing this. So she worked happily as a doctor, eventually meeting her future husband Pietro Molla, whom she married in 1955. They had 3 children within 5 years, and in 1961, she was pregnant with her 4th child. During the pregnancy, she developed a fibroma in her uterus, and the doctors suggested her to have an abortion to save her life. But she continued with her pregnancy and the baby was born on April 21, 1962, Easter Saturday. Gianna made the ultimate sacrifice for her daughter, and she got weaker and weaker and died a week later, on April 28, 1962. Her daughter Gianna Emmanuela became a paediatrician herself, and was present with her father and two other siblings at her mother’s beatification in 1994. Another sister had died in 1964, 2 years after her mother. The miracle that certified her canonization was done on a Brazilian woman Elizabetta Comparini, who in her 16th week of pregnancy experienced a tear in her placenta, losing all the amniotic fluid. Praying to Gianna Beretta Molla, she continued with her pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby, defying all the negative prognosis the doctors had given her. Gianna was proclaimed a Saint by Pope St John Paul II on May 16, 2004, with her husband and three children present. She has since became the patron for pro-life and for pregnant women, and a great statement against abortion. The church honors her on her feast day today April 28, the day of her death.

Divine Mercy Sunday

The Sunday after Easter will always be known as Divine Mercy Sunday, as people pray the novena handed down to us by St Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun and visionary, who was pushed away by many church authorities in her time and after her death. But Pope St John Paul, a Polish himself, re‑opened her case and authenticated her visions, and even canonized her in the year 2000, precisely on Divine Mercy Sunday. The faithful pray the novena by reciting 50 times "For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." The image of Jesus with white and red rays coming out of his heart has become a popular image among devout Catholics, after it being condemned for many years. The original painting was painted by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in 1934 with Sister Faustina's instructions and before her death in 1938. Another popular version of the painting was done by Adolf Hyła painted in 1943.

Pope Francis – final words

 Of all the words Pope Francis has written or said, these are probably the six most important phrases which we will always remember.

“Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy … Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love.” 

“Please do not forget the poor.”

“The Lord entrusts to the Church’s motherly love every person forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future … In this regard, I wish to reaffirm that ‘our shared response may be articulated by four verbs: to welcome, to protect, to promote, and to integrate.”

‘Don’t forget that the words : "May I ?", "Thank you," and 'I'm sorry" are key to maintaining peace in the home.’

“Our dreams of justice, of peace, of solidarity can make it possible for our young people to have new visions; in this way, together, we can build the future,”

The Holy Father insisted priests be shepherds "with the smell of sheep," urged consecrated brothers and sisters to bring God’s "light to the women and men of our time," and called on laypeople to "bring the novelty and joy of the Gospel wherever you are."

Pope Francis’ burial

Basilica of St Mary Major, where Pope Francis will be buried

In the history of the Catholic Church, there have been 266 popes, and only about 30 of them have been buried outside of Rome. About 90 popes are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica (21 in the Vatican grottoes), 22 in St. John the Lateran, seven in Santa Maria Maggiore, five in St. Mary of Minerva, five at the Basilica St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, three at St. Paul Outside the Walls, and one in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles. Leo I the Great is the first pope buried in St. Peter’s. Over the centuries several popes have chosen Roman basilicas for their burial spot. The last was Leo XIII in 1903, who wanted his tomb in the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Pope Francis has also instead arranged for his tomb to be in another basilica — the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Pope Francis had a special connection with the basilica. He prayed before the icon of the “Salus Populi Romani” before and after each apostolic journey. He went there on the first day of his pontificate. The pope — a Jesuit — was tied to this basilica because it was there that St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, celebrated his first Mass. Pope Francis will not be the first pope to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, however. The basilica contains the tombs of Honorius III, Nicholas IV, St. Pius V, Sixtus V, Paul V, Clement VIII, and Clement IX. St Pius V is of particular interest to the Maltese people, because he sent his architect Francesco Lapparelli to build our capital city Valletta in the 1560s. He is also the Pope who introduced the white cassock for a Pope. Since he was Dominican, he wore white in the summer Roman heat. He liked it and kept wearing white, and so did all his successors.