Following the announcement that Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected Pope, Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh issued the following statement:
“It is with great joy we have received news of the election of Pope Leo XIV. Gathered with our priests of the Diocese of Gaylord on retreat, it is Providential to be at the Augustine Center in Conway to hear the announcement of an Augustinian named as Supreme Pontiff. It is also Providential that we placed a peace lily plant in front of the altar for the conclave and then heard the first words of our new Holy Father echo peace.
Pope Leo XIV – both an American and Peruvian citizen – has been chosen as Vicar of Christ. While that is certainly remarkable and fills us with awe, as faithful daughters and sons of the Universal Church, we pledge our prayers, obedience and support to Pope Leo XIV. Grateful for the ‘rock’ of Peter's confession of faith, ‘You are the Christ...The Son of the living God,’ we move forward confidently with our earthly Shepherd guiding us to the Kingdom as Pilgrims of Hope."
