Panaji: While Pope Leo XIV was elected as the head of the Catholics and sovereign of the Vatican City State, Goa Church on Friday welcomed him stating that “God has blessed us with the Pope who is focussed on dialogue, peace and unity.” Fr Henry Falcao, Director, St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre at Old Goa said that the entire Church was waiting for a new Pope.
“It is always a news of joy for the whole church . It is great news for us. We have a leader for almost 1.4 billion catholics around the world,” he said.
Responding to the speech by the New Pope, Fr Falcao said “at least what I have heard, what I have read about the new Pope….Also from his first address that he gave…. the new Pope looks to be a very welcoming Pope, inclusive Pope that is what he has remarked in his address.”
He is the Pope who would be open for dialogue . “That is what at least world needs today. Pope is also looked upon by the entire world for moral guidance and that is why, he has been stressing in his initial address that there should be a dialogue,” Falcao said.
The priest said that unity is another aspect he stressed upon, peace in the world is another thing, that is type of Pope that we needed.
“We are happy with that God has blessed us with the Pope who is focussed on dialogue, peace in the world, unity amongst nation, unity amongst people,” he commented.
Fr Falcao said “more and more we have to realise that we are one humanity, one planet. And the church has a great role to promote this type of unity.”
When asked about the masses to welcome new Pope in Goa Churches, Falcao said that the initial mass will be at the Vatican.
“It is called installation of the new Pope, it may take some time because world leaders also take part in that,” he said.
Fr Falcao said that once Goa and Daman Archbishop Cardinal Philipe Neri Ferrao is back from the Vatican, the masses would be held in Goa.
