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Fr Peter Gallagher, Provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, shared:

"The Jesuits in Britain welcome the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV with joy and prayerful support. In this moment of grace, we reaffirm our commitment to serve Christ and the Church wherever the need is greatest. Guided by our apostolic mission, we walk in hope, alongside Pope Leo XIV, in addressing the challenges of today’s world."

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Full message from the Provincial

Dear friends in Christ,

Praised be God, who in His providence has raised His humble servant, His Holiness Leo XIV, to the See of Peter.

On behalf of the Jesuits in Britain, it is my joy to welcome our new Holy Father into the heart of our mission and the centre of our prayers. We give thanks to God for this moment of grace, and we assure the Holy Father of our prayerful support as he begins this important ministry of leading the Church with wisdom, compassion, and a heart open to all.

From the moment of his election, the universal Church has been renewed by the Spirit and our Jesuit vocation is renewed with it. As we look to the challenges and hopes of the world today, we renew our commitment to serve Christ under his pastoral leadership. Like St Ignatius, we remain ready to go wherever God calls, attentive to the whispers of the Spirit and eager to respond: “Here I am; send me.”

Our vow of obedience to the Pope has long been at the heart of our mission, calling us to walk alongside those seeking hope, reconciliation, and justice. With Pope Leo XIV, the successor of Peter, we continue this path of service. Guided by our four apostolic preferences and together with our partners in schools, parishes, retreat houses, universities, and social ministries, we offer our prayers and actions to bring Christ’s light to those most in need.

We invite all people of goodwill to join us in praying for Pope Leo XIV: May the Lord grant him the wisdom to guide us, the courage to speak God’s word with tenderness, and the grace to build bridges of peace in today’s world. May we, too, continue to serve wherever the Church calls us, with open hearts, willing hands, and a deep trust in God’s providence. May his ministry be filled with the light of Christ, leading us all toward a deeper union with God and one another.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam

Fr Peter Gallagher SJ

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Photo of Pope Leo XVI: Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons