Pope Leo XIV says Church in 'great need' of priests, nuns
MANILA, Philippines — Pope Leo XIV championed religious life yesterday in a public address, saying the Church has a "great need" for its priests and nuns, while young people require "credible models."
"Today brothers and sisters, I therefore have the joy of praying with you and all the people of God for vocations, especially those to the priesthood and consecrated life," the American pope said.
"The Church has such a great need for them!" added the pope, who was elected last Thursday, adding that young people needed to be able to "look up to credible models of generous dedication to God."
Pope Leo XIV of the Catholic Church has been elected on the second day of the conclave, as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 9 at 12:08 a.m., Manila time.
The papal conclave reached consensus on the fourth ballot — the same number of voting rounds that elected former Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 — signaling strong agreement among the most geographically diverse group of cardinal-electors in Church history on who should best follow Pope Francis's 12-year papacy. — With reports from Agence France-Presse
