LANSING — Michigan Catholic Conference president and CEO Paul A. Long has offered the following comments on the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an Augustinian priest who holds dual American and Peruvian citizenship, and has taken the name of Pope Leo XIV for his papacy:
“The cardinals’ election of Pope Leo XIV is a source of joy and excitement for Catholics and indeed all people of goodwill in Michigan and across the globe.
“Beginning with Pope Francis’s death, present through the conclave, and following the plumes of white smoke that emerged today from the Vatican, the world holds great interest in the leadership of the Catholic Church and the pope’s teaching on faith and morality, his approach to geopolitical realities, and the burning need for peace in our world.
“Michigan Catholic Conference offers its prayers for Pope Leo XIV and his mission to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all corners of the world. We continue to pray for the bishops in Michigan and their episcopal mission — in concert with the pope — to teach, govern, and sanctify the faithful.
“And we look forward with hope that the papacy of the 266th successor to Saint Peter, in continuity with his predecessors, continues to build bridges, foster dialogue, and uphold the dignity and worth of every human life.”
