Dear ACoM Brethren,
I am writing to you to share my story and experiences of the Papal Inauguration of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV which I recently attended. I was invited by the Anglican Communion office to represent ACoM as a member of the Anglican Communion delegation to the inauguration.
After a long journey of more than thirty hours, including laybys, I arrived at the Leonardo da Fiumicino Airport in Rome on 15 May. I spent the first two nights at Beda College, an English speaking college of the Roman Catholic Church. On Saturday 17, I was transferred to Ergife Hotel to be with other colleague delegates and world religious leaders who gathered for the inauguration.
Prior to the inauguration, I attended three side events. The first was with the Columbans Mission Society for an evening courtesy in honour of Bishop Sir David Moxon (NZ), the former Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and his good Lady, who were visiting Rome. The second event was at the Anglican Centre for a ‘greet and meet’ and a briefing by Bishop Anthony Ball, the incumbent Director of the Anglican Centre. The third was an ecumenical gathering hosted by the USA Episcopal Parish in Rome, an opportunity for them to welcome the new Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
The Papal inauguration as we all know, took place on Sunday 18 May at Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square. It was attended by thousands of Christians and non-Christians pilgrims, royalties and diplomats, and Churches’ and religious leaders.
Apart from the beautiful sunny day, the event of the inauguration, as most of you watched, was glorious, majestic and deeply dignified, hence so spirit-filled. It was professionally organised and operationalized, paving its fluency and solemn grandeur. It was so overwhelmingly captivating. And yet, it possessed a simple and humble aura, so profoundly resonating with the humility and simplicity of the new Pontiff.
The inaugural homily of Pope Leo XIV was preached in Italiano, though, it has been made available in diversity of languages including English. It carried his greatest desire to see the Church engaged in mission, to build bridges across the world’s pluralistic divides. He said, “After the resurrection, it is up to them (disciples) to carry on the mission, to cast their nets again and again to bring the Hope of the gospel into the “Waters” of the world, to sail the seas of life so that all may experience God’s embrace”. To do so is possible, he said, “Because his (Peter’s) own life was touched by the infinite and unconditional love of God, even in the hour of failure and denial“. His sermon is described by many world Church and religious leaders as perfect for our time and age.
After the inauguration service, we were invited with other Church leaders and world religious leaders into the Vatican. The event gave opportunities for religious leaders to engage in joyful conversations and interactions, a basic means to what building bridges entail.
On Monday 19, we were again taken to the Vatican for an audience with the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV. In his address, he reiterated his call for commitment to dialogue and fraternity based on mutual respect and freedom consciences. He said, “If we are in agreement and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace, ‘no’ to arms race and ‘yes’ to disarmament, ‘no’ to an economy that impoverishes people and the Earth and ‘yes’ to integral development”. Following his address, we greeted him and offered gifts of well wishes and gratitude and a group photograph.
Personally, it was a rare and huge blessing for me to be part of the Anglican Communion delegation of five Primates to the Holy See for the historic occasion. I accepted the invitation knowing that it was an honour and recognition of the Anglican Church of Melanesia to be part of Anglican Communion delegation. Furthermore, it was deeply moving to represent the Anglican Communion to greet the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV after the Inauguration Mass. In that brief encounter, I conveyed to the Holy Father, congratulations, prayers and greetings from the Anglican Communion, the Anglican Church of Melanesia and Archbishop Chris Cardone and the Roman Catholic Church in Solomon Islands. He reciprocated and acknowledged my presence there despite the wide physical distance involved.
May I convey my gratitude and acknowledgement to the Bishop Anthony Poggo for the invitation and the ACO staff for the great support. Great acknowledgement is also due to Bishop Anthony Ball at the Anglican Centre in Rome and his support for wonderful logistical arrangements. I also render acknowledgement to Fr Philip Gillespie, Rector of Beda College, his staff and students for accommodation and super hospitality. A huge thanks and appreciation to the Vatican for such a spirit-filled and once in a life experience. I also acknowledge my fellow delegates, the four Primates and other members of the Anglican delegation for friendship and cooperation. My sincere thanks to Hansford Mana, a young Marist Brother from Guadalcanal, living and studying in Rome for his friendship and companionship. And finally, my usual thank you to the ACoM General Secretary, Canon Abraham Hauriasi and concerned staffs for logistics and support. Finally, thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts whilst on this assignment.
Awis
Archbishop Leonard Dawea
ACoM
May 2025