Habemus Papam!

Pope Leo 14th greeting the crowd at his Election in 2025.

Dear Friends,

Today we witnessed a rare and moving moment—the election of a new Pope. It’s an event that, for many of us, has occurred only a few times in our lives. In preparing for this day, I spent some time reflecting on the history of the papacy and was struck to learn that, across the 2,000-year history of the Church, there have been 266 popes—an average pontificate lasting only about eight years. That makes the nearly 27-year papacy of Saint John Paul II, the pope of my childhood, all the more remarkable.

But amid the grandeur of this moment, it’s important to pause and reflect on something deeper: The papacy is not a political prize or a personal triumph. Many who assume the office—including Pope Benedict, Pope Francis, and undoubtedly the man who stepped onto the balcony today — Formerly Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo 14]—do not seek the role. He is not the victor in a campaign. He is, like Christ, a lamb offered in sacrifice—chosen not for power but for service to a weary, divided, and often cynical world.

Between his election and his public appearance, he likely spent time in a small, little-known chapel next to the Sistine Chapel—The Chapel of Tears. It is there that newly elected popes go to pray, often weeping in the face of the immense burden laid upon them. In that hidden room, he may have told God that he is too weak for this task. And as with all of us, God does not ask for our strength—He offers His mercy.

Our new Holy Father takes up the mantle of Peter in a time of great turbulence. War, upheaval in global systems, renewed empires, and the erosion of moral and spiritual foundations—all these press upon the Church. This pope will suffer. He will grow weary. If he does not retire, he will almost certainly die bearing the weight of this sacred office.

So tonight, as we all begin to learn about this man—his biography, his theology, his worldview—I encourage you to remember the Chapel of Tears. Resist the urge to fit him into our political boxes or cultural categories. Instead, do what Pope Francis has often asked of us: pray for him, not judge him.

He has not stepped into glory, he has stepped into sacrifice; and he needs our prayers.

With joy in the Lord and hope for what lies ahead,
Dr. Evan Kristiansen

P.S. Pope Leo 14th is an Augustinian. You may know that I attended an Augustinian High school, Villanova Preparatory School, whose motto is "Unitas, Veritas, Caritas" (Unity, Truth, Love). I hope that Pope Leo 14th will bring these virtues to the forefront of our Church, and show the world how to develop these virtues.