Faithful called to pray for Leo XIV, first US pope, by Hong Kong Catholic Church

The Hong Kong Catholic Church has called on the faithful to pray for newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who has stressed the importance of displaying love through dialogue and compassion.

Hours after the new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday as the 267th pope, the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong issued its own statement on Friday.

“Together with the faithful, Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, Bishop of the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, gives thanks to God for choosing Pope Leo XIV. They pray that God will bless him abundantly in his future ministry as the supreme pastor of the Roman Catholic Church,” the diocese said.

Leo, who has served as a missionary in Peru and previously led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, is the Roman Catholic Church’s first pope from the United States.

“Pope Leo XIV emphasises bridge building, a synodal church and a church for the poor. He stresses to display love through dialogue and compassion,” the Hong Kong Catholic Church said.

“He urges the faithful all over the world to make a collective effort in creating a more harmonious world with love and inclusivity.”

The new pope was born in 1955 in Chicago. He was appointed the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2015, before becoming a cardinal in 2023. From 2023 until his election as pontiff, he served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under the Holy See.

Leo was chosen on the second day of a conclave after securing at least 89 votes from the 133 cardinal electors in the fourth ballot.