CAFOD statement for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

Christine Allen, Director and Chief Executive of CAFOD, says:

“Pope Leo’s grassroots experience, especially his years as a missionary in Peru, combined with his role as a senior Vatican official, means he brings to the papacy not only extensive expertise but also deep compassion and an understanding of the issues the most marginalised communities are facing.

“The Pope occupies a unique position, because he will be both a global leader, capable of skilled diplomacy on the world stage, while acting as a shepherd, guiding his flock and providing the moral leadership the world so desperately needs.

“In his first week, Pope Leo has emphasised peace, unity and global solidarity. He called for an end to the war in Ukraine and a ceasefire in Gaza, offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, and urged journalists to serve truth and give voice to the voiceless.

“We’ve seen in Pope Leo’s work and words his commitment to peace and bridging the gap between rich and poor, between the global north and the global south.

“Now, in this Jubilee year of hope, he is calling on all of us to build bridges. We have to face together the challenges of our time: to work for peace, to take urgent climate action, and to deliver debt relief for countries crippled by unfair debt payments.

“In a world marked by deep division and suffering, his call for unity, compassion and lasting peace is one we must all take to heart.”