In the days following his May 18 Inauguration Mass, Pope Leo XIV continued to add to the list of his papal “firsts.”
These “firsts” included the canonical possession of Rome’s major papal basilicas and his first weekly Wednesday audience. Several dozen diocesan parishioners received the opportunity to witness these firsts.
Father Jonathan M. Smith, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls, led a group of 37 — including his parents, Michael and Mary — on a pilgrimage throughout Italy May 12-23.
Since the pilgrimage was planned more than a year ago and long before the conclave assembled, “we were kind of uncertain, trying to determine how this might change our trip,” Father Smith said. “But it ended up really opening up a lot of different opportunities.”
The tour group witnessed two papal “firsts” in Rome back-to-back May 20-21. The evening the group was scheduled to tour the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four papal basilicas, Pope Leo arrived to “take possession” of the basilica.
Following the papal Inauguration Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pope travels to take canonical possession of the major basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Father Smith said that the ceremony was simple yet profound. “He processed in through the Holy Doors, and then he knelt and prayed at the tomb of St. Paul,” he said.
For Our Lady of Hope parishioner Chris Melnick, it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. “It was (my) first time seeing any pope up close, let alone the first American-born pope,” Melnick said. “To be so close to such a historical moment in our church history was overwhelming and something I truly felt unworthy of beholding. It was a very moving and humbling experience and one I will treasure.”
The next morning, the pilgrims arrived in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Leo’s first Wednesday audience. “As we walked into St. Peter’s Square, the announcer was announcing over the microphone, welcoming all the English-speaking pilgrims from the United States, including Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, Virginia. So, it was really exciting to hear our parish being recognized,” Father Smith said.
As the popemobile passed through the crowd, Father Smith and the pilgrims waved and cheered. In his address, the pope spoke about the parable of the sower.
“Jesus tells us that God throws the seed of his word on all kinds of soil, that is, in any situation of ours … God is confident and hopes that sooner or later the seed will blossom,” Pope Leo said. “This is how he loves us: he does not wait for us to become the best soil, but he always generously gives us his word.”
His words resonated with the pilgrims. “I was particularly struck by Pope Leo XIV’s humility,” said Our Lady of Hope parishioner Fran Labate. “His words to the assembled were like those of a pope who has been seated on the Chair of St. Peter for many years. I pray for him daily and I know that he will be one of our great popes.
