Fr. José Luis Correa Lira, from the Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers, was an advisor to the Movement in Peru for several years and had contact with the new Pope when he was bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo.

Currently, this Peruvian diocese has a Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, a Schoenstatt Mothers’ Group, and several diocesan priests who are enthusiastic about our spirituality. In addition, there is a special meeting place for them, which is a wayside shrine of the MTA.

Here, Fr. José Luis shares some of his memories with us:

First impressions and personal reflections

I am very happy that the cardinals gathered at the last Conclave chose Monsignor Prevost as bishop of Rome, and therefore Pope, and that he accepted, taking the name Leo.

Why that name? Nomen est homen. The choice of name indicates a program.

Leo, friend of Francis

Leo was the best friend of St. Francis of Assisi. Since nothing is accidental in God’s plan, it is enough to remember that the new Pope was baptized as Robert Francis. And I have no doubt that he felt very close to his predecessor, the beloved Pope Francis (and vice versa), and that this is why the latter called him to the Vatican just a couple of years ago, entrusting him with no less than the leadership of the Dicastery for Bishops (which also includes the Pontifical Commission for Latin America).

Leo XIV. Another important piece of information that may help us better understand the name chosen by the new Pope is that we owe Pope Leo XIII, among other things, the Encyclical Rerum Novarum, known and valued as the first Social Encyclical of the Catholic Church. Certainly, we can also find current suggestions from the new Pontiff along these lines (he has already spoken of peace, unity, building bridges …) And his lifestyle and pastoral service strongly endorse this.

Marian Spirit

Just as Francis made multiple references to St. Ignatius of Loyola, I really liked that the Pope acknowledged his spiritual affiliation with St. Augustine and even quoted him (and not just any words from the saint of Hippo!).

With you I am Christian, for you I am bishop. We walk together (synodality) guided by the shepherd.

Finally, I loved that Pope Leo XIV concluded his first public appearance from the balcony in St. Peter’s by inviting everyone to pray to the Virgin Mary. Pope Leo XIII also wrote a couple of important Marian documents: one, Octobri mensi, on the devotion to the Holy Rosary, especially in the month of October, and Magnae Dei Matris, on the devotion to the Holy Rosary as well. The election of the new Pope took place in May, the month of Mary in most countries…

The Pope has already visited the Bellavista Shrine

Some encounters I have had with him:

During one of the visits I was able to make to his home and office when I was the National Advisor for Schoenstatt in Peru (I normally traveled from Chile to Peru three times a year), he told me that when he was Superior General of his Order, the Augustinians, he had visited the Shrine in Bellavista, Chile, and had met Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa (Schoenstatt Father).

A Schoenstatt member from Chile, and a great friend, sent me part of a short chronicle I wrote in 2016. In it, I briefly recount my encounter with Monsignor Robert Prevost, at that time bishop of Chiclayo, Peru:

From the Carmelites, I went to the office of the bishop, Monsignor Robert Prevost, who received me very cordially. We talked at length about the Schoenstatt priests and seminarians in his diocese and about the discernment that some of them are making about whether to join the Institute or the Federation of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests. We also spoke about the seminarians and the Church in Cuba (when he was Superior General of the Augustinians, he had visited the island several times and knew several of the Cuban bishops well).

Several seminarians linked to the Movement

He was the third bishop of Chiclayo (the previous two had been from the Prelature of Opus Dei). I had the joy of preaching the annual retreat for the clergy of that diocese once and of staying several times at the Major Seminary, where several seminarians belonged to Schoenstatt (today many of them are already priests in that diocese or in Chota, a little further north) and remain in some way connected to the Movement.

Another time, I was able to preach the annual retreat for the Carmelite convent on the way to Pimentel. It was a wonderful experience! To my surprise, before my arrival, they already had a beautiful image of the Blessed Mother in their convent and were preparing to seal their covenant of love with her.

The members of Schoenstatt in Chiclayo will probably also be able to share their experiences and impressions of the new shepherd of the universal Church given to us by God. The photos were sent by members of the League of Schoenstatt Mothers during meetings with their diocesan bishop. He knew them very well, as they are great collaborators of the Major Seminary in Chiclayo.

Thank you, Lord, for Pope Leo XIV!

Translation: Maribel Acaron