A Homily for the Votive Mass on the Day of the Coronation of the Pope

+ We offer this votive Mass of the Coronation of a Pope this morning—a liturgical privilege granted to emphasise its importance, which exceptionally permits the fourth Sunday of Easter to be commemorated—at exactly the same time as Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, is celebrating the solemn Mass of the Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry in Rome. One might be tempted to be in front of a screen to watch the event live, but in fact we could be in no better place—here, before the Altar of God, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for Pope Leo, in communion with him and with the whole of the Catholic Church.
 
For, on an historic occasion such as this our first duty is one of prayer. Whatever of the personal merits and however impressive the curriculum vitae of Cardinal Prevost may have been—and there seems to be little reason for concern here; indeed quite the opposite—in being called to become the servants of the servants of God who holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven on earth, any man needs first and foremost the particular grace of the high office to which he has been called in which the whole Church must support him through their prayers and intercession.
 
It is a fact that there has been much that has been ‘troubling’, as it were, about the exercise of the Papal Office in recent years and it is a sad but nevertheless utterly true reality that in the Church’s history there have been very bad popes and very foolish ones. As we know only too well, even those in high office in the Church are subject to and sometimes fall prey to the wiles of the devil and give in to the seductions of worldly power, ideological idolatry or base carnal pleasure that he proffers. It is not for any one of us to judge a particular Pope—that prerogative is God’s alone, and as Catholics we beg God’s mercy for all the faithful departed, especially those who have held high office. But we cannot ignore the facts of history: popes are men, and men can fall.
 
Which is why our prayer for the Holy Father is so important. Indeed, it is vital. For in the economy of grace no prayer, no sacrifice, no act of charity offered for an intention, howsoever small, is wasted. Everything counts. What each one of us offers to God on behalf of the Pope makes a difference. And if the task facing Pope Leo is immense and utterly daunting—as indeed it is—then our prayers for him need to be all the more generous. We are not bound to admire popes’ characters or even to believe their personal opinions, but we are obliged to support them with our prayers and to obey them in the legitimate exercise of their high office.
 
That they may have the grace so to do correctly is, at least in part, up to us. For we cannot complain if we do not do our part. Indeed, there is a tendency, partially understandable given recent history, to wash our hands and stand aloof complaining about this or that aspect of the Holy Father’s previous ministry, dismissing him out of hand because of his imperfections. Complaint and criticism become an occupation for some who forget that this is a crucial moment of grace in which prayer, not posturing, is that which is necessary. For beginning with St Peter himself, popes have had pasts that have been far from perfect! In the mercy and Providence of Almighty God, ultimately that does not matter: it may even assist a pope humbly to rely upon God’s grace. What matters is that he responds with faith and generosity to the particular call to service that he has received (as must we all).
 
This call, this responsibility, this power is quite specific, and it is in no way equivalent to that given to those who hold political office, whatever of their particular merits or otherwise. “The power that Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors,” as one Successor of Peter explained twenty years ago this month:
 
“is, in an absolute sense, a mandate to serve. The power of teaching in the Church involves a commitment to the service of obedience to the faith. The Pope is not an absolute monarch whose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary: the Pope's ministry is a guarantee of obedience to Christ and to his Word. He must not proclaim his own ideas, but rather constantly bind himself and the Church to obedience to God's Word, in the face of every attempt to adapt it or water it down, and every form of opportunism.” (Benedict XVI, 7 May 2005)
 
This is the vocation of Pope Leo XIV, just as it was the vocation of all his predecessors (the relics of twelve of whom, including St Peter and St Leo the Great, are on the altar this morning). So too it shall be the vocation of all of his successors until the end of time. That he may ever remain faithful to this call, in his teaching, in his acts of governance, in his prudential decisions and in his example, we must fervently pray.
 
As we go to the Altar of God let us ask St Augustine, the Doctor of Grace, of whom Pope Leo is a son (and whose relics are also on the altar), to obtain for him, and for the Church, the wisdom and strength our Holy Father needs so that he might be another great pope—a true “lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5) with and in whom we may rejoice in the triumph of all that is true, beautiful and good, indeed, of all that is truly of God.
 
Omnes sancti pontifices: orate pro eo!  Sancte Augustine: ora pro eo! +