The Roman Catholic Church just selected its new leader in Pope Leo XIV. His role as the successor of Peter to lead 1.4 Billion Catholics (and many other believers) is one of the most important in public life.

With a single Google search, the world’s pundits now know ‘everything’ about this man – his positions, his beliefs, his innermost thoughts…or so they would have you believe.

It is not even 24 hours since Pope Leo XIV emerged from the well-known ‘Room of Tears’ – and now he is tossed into the media cycle of scrutiny, the gauntlet of questions, and the litany of speculations.

If you’re familiar with litanies, there is one more that comes to mind at this pivotal moment – The Litany of Humility.

Among the many pleas in this simple prayer are the challenges ‘that in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease’, ‘that others may be praised, and I go unnoticed’, ‘that others may be chosen, and I set aside’.

This man has indeed been chosen, but in truth, he has been chosen because he will put Christ first. Across the globe, the former cardinal will decrease, so that his mission for Christ’s presence in you may increase. In the 24/7 media, he will be noticed and extolled, but not always praised.

This new papacy began yesterday, and it marks a beautiful new chapter in one priests’ life – and the future of The Church. And after the first few seconds as he stood on the balcony, he brought forth his first blessing in his opening greeting, ‘Peace be with you all.’ That moment stirred a wave of emotions in me – of joy, of humility, of awe at the continuation of something truly blessed.

I, for one, am giving our new Pope a bit more time to stand as the Vicar of Christ, to celebrate his succession, and to hold critique.