The Catholic Community in Nagaland (Diocese of Kohima), joins the Universal Church in profound joy and thanksgiving at the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, formerly His Eminence Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the 267th successor to the Apostle Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, September 14, 1955) is an American Catholic prelate who served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. In 2015 Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru’s National Civil Registry. Born in Chicago, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Augustinians. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator. He was made a cardinal in 2023.

In an official message released from the Bishop’s House, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, conveyed warm congratulations to the newly elected Holy Father on behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Diocese. His Excellency remarked that the election of Pope Leo XIV is a moment of grace and renewal for the Church and a visible reminder of the abiding guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

Bishop Thoppil further emphasized the unifying role of the papacy in a global Church: “There is no white or black Catholic, no Latino or Asian Catholic, no European or American Catholic. There is only one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This is the beauty of our faith—a Church that transcends cultures, languages, and borders, united under one faith, one baptism, and one Shepherd.”

His choice of the name Leo, brings to our mind Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), who in 1886 established the Catholic hierarchy in India, sowing the seeds of a strong, self-sustaining and missionary Church in our land and the prophetic words of Pope Leo XIII in 1983, “Filii tui, India, administri tibi salutis: (Your sons, O India will be the heralds of your salvation). It was Pope Leo XIII who brought out the first land mark social encyclical of the Church, (Rerum Novarum) that paved the way for the social teaching of the Church.  Pope Leo XIV ‘s choice of name signals a commitment to social justice that is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ‘ global ministry. The new Pope is not a stranger to India. He visited India two decades ago when he was the Prior General of the Saint Augustinian Order to attend a priestly ordination.

Reaffirming the Catholics filial devotion to the Holy Father, the Bishop called upon all parishes, institutions, and communities to offer fervent prayers for Pope Leo XIV, that he may be strengthened with divine wisdom, pastoral courage, and a heart filled with love for all peoples. “Let us pray that Pope Leo XIV may be a bridge-builder, a father to the poor and marginalized, and a voice of peace and justice in our troubled world,” the Bishop urged.

As the Church celebrates this historic moment, the Catholic Church in Nagaland join in jubilation and prayer, welcoming Pope Leo XIV with open hearts and firm faith.

Ad multos annos, Holy Father!
Long live Pope Leo XIV!