Bishop requests prays for Pope Leo as he walks in footsteps of St. Peter

LUMEN MEDIA Report - Bishop John E. Keehner presided at the noon Mass for Pope Leo XIV at Cathedral of the Epiphany on May 12 in Sioux City.

During the homily, the bishop mentioned that the Gospel, John 10:1-10, like that of the Sunday reading, focused on the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

In Pope Leo’s first homily as pontiff that he offered in the presence of the College of Cardinals who had elected him pope, Bishop Keehner said the Holy Father asked the cardinals to reflect on the marvels and blessings of the Lord.

“You have called me to carry that cross,” he said, quoting the pope.

The Holy Father had added he was aware he could count on each of them to walk with him as they continue as a church, friends of Jesus, to announce the good news – announce the Gospel.Pope Leo XIV - CNS photo/Lola Gomez

“It is not insignificant, I would suggest, that he chose to use the image of the cross,” said Bishop Keehner, adding that each Christian is called to pick up the cross and follow Christ.
Just 12 days earlier, the bishop noted, he had felt the enormity of the cross presented to him during his episcopal ordination.

As he lay prostrate before the altar during the singing of the Litany of the Saints, Bishop Keehner mentioned the pectoral cross that was suspended by his neck literally began to dig into his sternum.

“How fitting that I be bruised by the cross, by the reality of the very sign of salvation which I pledged to bear as bishop of Sioux City,” he said.

Reflecting on the imagery used by the Holy Father in carrying “the cross,” the bishop noted that Pope Leo accepted the many challenges that come with the position willingly and joyfully “for you, for me, for the sake of the body of Christ, the universal church for which he is wed.”

Bishop John E. Keehner presides at Mass for Pope Leo on May 12 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City.

Bishop Keehner asked the congregation to pray for Pope Leo as he takes on the role of leading the Catholic Church.While the pope will be faced with numerous distractions and various groups or individuals will try to pigeon-hole him, the bishop prayed that the Holy Father will “remain true to the original joy he expressed in his first homily – the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, the only savior and the one who remains the face of the father.”

“Let us pray that he may remain strong and for his willingness to lead us and guide us as a shepherd who willingly lays down his life for his sheep as a gate to protect the sheep from the wolf, the thief and the destroyer,” said Bishop Keehner. “Let us pray for Pope Leo that he will keep his eyes on Jesus, so by continuing to walk in the footsteps of Peter himself he will learn and teach us what it means to walk on water as he leads our church into the future.”