Pope Leo XIV and the Relationship with St. Michael the Archangel

Note: Image courtesy of Wikipedia

As the whole world has just witnessed the unprecedented election of the first American Pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, the significance of this particular day cannot be understated. On the memorial (May 8) of the apparition of St. Michael the Archangel at Mount Gargano, the local bishop, in a vision he received from St. Michael to build a church in his honor at Mount Gargano in Naples around the fifth century. Even more, the significance of this day reflects the authorship of the St. Michael the Archangel Prayer by Pope Leo XIII in 1898. The origin of the St. Michael prayer is quite extraordinary, as Pope Leo XIII received a vision of a demonic nature while celebrating Mass. It was this encounter with the demonic that spurred Pope Leo XIII to write the St. Michael Prayer. One may argue that the significance of these two related aspects with the election of Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is not a coincidence.

Pope Leo XIII had a tremendous devotion to the Blessed Mother, as evidenced by the multiple encyclicals that he wrote on the role of Mary in the Church and the constant encouragement to the faithful to pray the rosary. He emphasized respect toward the dignity of the human person as reflected in his encyclical Humanum Genus. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, our Holy Father has been elected on a day when the intercessory prayers of St. Augustine and St. Michael take on greater significance in the daily life of the Church to pray, teach, and heal. As Pope Leo XIV declared in his opening remarks, “I am a son of St. Augustine.” He has also paid great admiration to Our Lady of Pompei as a pathway to ask for grace and prayers from our Blessed Mother for the entire Church. With his coat of arms proclaiming the motto, “In Ilo uno unum,” “In the one we are one,” this reflects in many respects the importance of affirming our identity as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, it is noteworthy to reflect on the relationship between Pope Leo XIV and St. Michael the Archangel, St. Augustine of Hippo, and our Blessed Mother Mary as pillars of his Pontificate. In particular, the relation of this day with St. Michael the Archangel is, again, in my opinion, not a coincidence. Whether a spiritual or doctrinal battle awaits us, or the proclamation of the Gospel will take on greater significance in our evangelistic efforts under Pope Leo XIV; It is an opportune time to exercise prayerful spiritual deference to Jesus Christ and his Church, affirm doctrinal docility to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and pray for our new Holy Father Papa Leo XIV.   

Let us offer the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel to protect the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, from the forces of evil that will undoubtedly be directed at him internally and externally as he prepares to shepherd us under his pontificate.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend Pope Leo XIV in battle, be his protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all his evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.