Cardinal Tobin: Two Popes, One in Christ
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Vol. 7. No. 19
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Today, May 8, is the one-year anniversary of the election of our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV. Just 12 months ago, the Holy Spirit blessed us with a successor to Saint Peter who would shepherd our Church, the flock entrusted to him by the Good Shepherd, and help all Christians continue the mission we received at our baptism: to be missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.
One year into the pontificate of Leo XIV, we can begin to see the many ways God has blessed us with this new pope. There is evident continuity with the major initiatives of his predecessor, Pope Francis. But there is also a pastoral leadership style unique to Pope Leo. That is as it should be. Continuity and originality complement each other and help us understand what is most important in the ministry of one called to be both a source of unity in the Church and a prophetic witness to the Gospel Truth in the world.
Earlier this year, I was invited to give a talk at Seton Hall University on the pontificates of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV. In my reflections, I identified what I consider to be three major themes of Pope Francis that our new Holy Father has embraced and is carrying forward in his own way. These themes are: 1) God’s abundant mercy, 2) Care for the environment (“Our Common Home”), and 3) Synodality. These three themes were central to the thoughts and actions of Pope Francis during his 12 years as pope. Now, Pope Leo XIV has embraced mercy, stewardship of our common home, and synodality. In his first year as pope, he has made it clear that he will continue to emphasize the importance of these themes in the Church and in society.
Another consistent theme of Pope Francis (and, indeed, of all recent popes) is peace. Pope Leo XIV greeted us a year ago with our Lord’s words to his disciples: “Peace be with you all!” (In Italian: “Pace a tutti voi!”). He immediately followed this by saying, “Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God.”
A year later, it is clear that Pope Leo takes this greeting seriously and that he will not stop speaking about peace as long as incivility, violence, and war continue to oppress the lives of millions of people across diverse regions of the world.
Peace was the common theme of the Easter messages of Pope Francis in 2025 (the day before he died) and Pope Leo XIV in 2026. (See Urbi et Orbi messages below.) In fact, Pope Leo has been relentless in his efforts to call our attention to the importance of dialogue, nonviolence, and the rejection of war as an instrument of foreign policy. In his Easter message, he says:
We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel. There is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference,” to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025).
There is something perversely attractive about war—its language, symbols, and pageantry. Pope Leo has warned us that nations cannot afford to take delight in exercising military power, even when the cause seems justified. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find Jesus expressing belligerence or a desire to dominate his enemies. His stance is always one of peace.
In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo said, “We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms around him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs.” The Holy Father said Jesus did not arm himself, defend himself, or fight any war. “He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.”
The cry for peace, heard in every era from the lips of millions, demands that we set aside the instruments of war and embrace the nonviolent forces of dialogue and diplomacy. War must always be the last resort. It should never be the preferred strategy for achieving the common good.
Pope Francis and his successor, Pope Leo XIV, share this absolute conviction: Christ, the King of Peace, cries out from his cross again and again: “God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!”
As we continue to celebrate the Easter mystery, let’s refuse to resign ourselves to the inevitability of war. Let’s cast off indifference and reject the false allure of armed conflict among nations. Let us instead gaze upon him who was crucified for us, so that we can see in him a crucified and redeemed humanity. As Pope Leo reminds us, in the wounds of our Redeemer, we see the hurts of so many women and men today, who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”
Easter is the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hatred, and of peace over war. On this first anniversary of the papal election of Leo XIV, may the peace of the Risen Christ fill the hearts of individuals, families, communities, and nations. May we always remember that the God of love is our Father and that we are all sisters and brothers of Jesus, the King of Peace.
Sincerely yours in Christ the Redeemer,
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Newark
Christ is risen, alleluia!
Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!
Today at last, the singing of the “alleluia” is heard once more in the Church, passing from mouth to mouth, from heart to heart, and this makes the people of God throughout the world shed tears of joy.
From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, “is not here, he has risen” (Lk 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive!
Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.
Sisters and brothers, especially those of you experiencing pain and sorrow, your silent cry has been heard and your tears have been counted; not one of them has been lost! In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: “Christ, my hope, has risen!” (Easter Sequence).
The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us.
All those who put their hope in God place their feeble hands in his strong and mighty hand; they let themselves be raised up and set out on a journey. Together with the risen Jesus, they become pilgrims of hope, witnesses of the victory of love and of the disarmed power of Life.
Christ is risen! These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again! In his eyes, every life is precious! The life of a child in the mother’s womb, as well as the lives of the elderly and the sick, who in more and more countries are looked upon as people to be discarded.
(A selection from the “Urbi et Orbi” message of Pope Francis, Easter 2025.)
A Message from Pope Leo XIV: In the One Christ, We are One
Brothers and sisters, Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
For centuries, the Church has joyfully sung of the event that is the origin and foundation of her faith: “Yes, Christ my hope is arisen / Christ indeed from death is risen / Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning” (Easter Sequence).
Easter is the victory of life over death, of light over darkness, of love over hatred. It is a victory that came at a very high price: Christ, the Son of the living God (cf. Mt 16:16), had to die — and die on a cross — after suffering an unjust condemnation, being mocked and tortured, and shedding all his blood. As the true immolated Lamb, he took upon himself the sin of the world (cf. Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:18–19) and thus freed us all — and with us, all creation — from the dominion of evil.
But how was Jesus able to be victorious? What is the strength with which he defeated once and for all the ancient adversary, the prince of this world (cf. Jn 12:31)? What is the power with which he rose from the dead, not returning to his former life, but entering into eternal life and thus opening in his own flesh the passage from this world to the Father?
This strength, this power, is God himself for he is Love who creates and generates, Love who is faithful to the end and Love who forgives and redeems.
Christ, our “victorious King,” fought and won his battle through trusting abandonment to the Father’s will, to his plan of salvation (cf. Mt 26:42). Thus he walked the path of dialogue to the very end, not in words but in deeds: to find us who were lost, he became flesh; to free us who were slaves, he became a slave; to give life to us mortals, he allowed himself to be killed on the cross.
The power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent. It is like that of a grain of wheat which, having rotted in the earth, grows, breaks through the clods, sprouts, and becomes a golden ear of wheat. It is even more like that of a human heart which, wounded by an offense, rejects the instinct for revenge and, filled with compassion, prays for the one who has committed the offense.
Brothers and sisters, this is the true strength that brings peace to humanity, because it fosters respectful relationships at every level: among individuals, families, social groups, and nations. It does not seek private interests, but the common good; it does not seek to impose its own plan, but to help design and carry out a plan together with others.
Yes, Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of a new humanity; it is the entrance into the true promised land, where justice, freedom, and peace reign, where all recognize one another as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father who is Love, Life, and Light.
Brothers and sisters, through his resurrection, the Lord confronts us even more powerfully with the dramatic reality of our freedom. Before the empty tomb, we can be filled with hope and wonder, like the disciples, or with fear like the guards and the Pharisees, forced to resort to lies and subterfuge rather than acknowledge that the one who had been condemned is truly risen (cf. Mt 28:11–15)!
In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ! Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!
We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel. There is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference,” to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025).
The cross of Christ always reminds us of the suffering and pain that surround death and the agony it entails. We are all afraid of death, and out of fear we turn away, preferring not to look. We cannot continue to be indifferent! And we cannot resign ourselves to evil! Saint Augustine teaches: “If you fear death, love the resurrection!” (Sermon 124, 4). Let us too love the resurrection, which reminds us that evil is not the last word, because it has been defeated by the Risen One.
He passed through death to give us life and peace: “I leave you peace; I give you my peace. Not as the world gives it, I give it to you” (Jn 14:27). The peace that Jesus gives us is not merely the silence of weapons, but the peace that touches and transforms the heart of each one of us! Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts! For this reason, I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here in Saint Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11.
On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. To the Lord we entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new (cf. Rev 21:5).
Happy Easter!
(“Urbi et Orbi” Message of Pope Leo XIV, Easter 2026)
My Prayer for You
Please join me in praying for peace in the words of Pope Leo XIV:
Let us continue to pray for the gift of peace for the whole world. Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. Amen.