LOOP POPE WATCH: Pope Leo XIV'S first homily, more background

FRIDAY, MAY 9 - POPE WATCH POPE LEO XIV CALLS OUT 'PRACTICAL ATHEISM' AMONG CHRISTIANS IN FIRST HOMILY  Pope Leo XIV this morning celebrated his first Mass as pontiff in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinal electors, offering a homily reflecting on Saint Peter's response to Jesus' question in Matthew 16: "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Here is the full text of the Holy Father's first homily as pontiff. READ FULL TEXT: POPE LEO'S BLESSING FROM THE LOGGIA  Moments after his historic election yesterday, Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and offered his first words as the newest successor of Peter, invoking the peace of the risen Christ. Read the new pope's entire urbi et orbi blessing here.  READ US BISHOPS THANK GOD FOR POPE LEO'S ELECTION  Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio issued a statement yesterday thanking God for the election of Pope Leo XIV on behalf of the US Catholic bishops: "Certainly, we rejoice that a son of this Nation has been chosen by the cardinals, but we recognize that he now belongs to all Catholics and to all people of good will."  READ PRESIDENT TRUMP, VICE PRESIDENT VANCE HONOR NEW POPE  President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance took to social media yesterday to congratulate the new pope. "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope," wrote Trump. "What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"  READ SPREAD THE WORD! MORE TO COME FROM POPE WATCH  In the coming days, our on-the-ground team of reporters and analysts will have plenty more to share about the historic events that take up the beginning of the new pontificate. Help us make sure no one misses out by forwarding this edition to your friends or inviting them to sign up at CatholicVote.org/GetLOOP. STAY IN THE LOOP KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PLEDGE LOYALTY TO POPE LEO  On behalf of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly issued a statement celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV and promising the loyalty of the Knights. "The Knights of Columbus will always stand in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV as we support the Church's mission of evangelization through our works of charity and faith formation," Kelly stated in part.  READ AUGUSTINIANS CELEBRATE ELECTION OF FORMER PRIOR GENERAL  The Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) has congratulated their former prior general on becoming pope in a letter written by Father Pasquale di Lernia, secretary general, on behalf of Father Alejandro Moral Antón, the order's current prior general.  READ POPE PLAYED MASS AS A BOY, HIS BROTHER RECALLS  When he was a child, Pope Leo XIV would pretend to be a priest and celebrate Mass, his brother John Prevost said this week. "He took our mom's ironing board and put a tablecloth over it and we had to go to Mass," Prevost recalled of his brother, then-Robert Prevost.  READ POPE'S INITIAL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES  The Prefecture of the Papal Household has published the official two-week schedule for Pope Leo XIV, offering a detailed look at the Pontiff's upcoming commitments as he begins his ministry at the helm of the Catholic Church.  READ THE POPE SPEAKS ENGLISH  The first American pope began his homily this morning with a few words in English during Mass with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. WATCH & SHARE Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127