PANAJI
The Catholic Association of Goa (CAG), an association of the Catholic Lay Faithful in the Archdiocese, has expressed its profound joy at the election of Pope Leo XIV and prayed that it ushers in a renewed era of hope and transformation for the Church and the World.
In a statement, CAG President Adv. Nick Colaco said the CAG rejoiced that the new Pope, who has spent most of his sacerdotal years serving the poorest in Peru, will be able to bring a fresh perspective of the subalterns to the papacy and thus, continue in the footsteps of his much-acclaimed predecessor, Pope Francis, as a Pope of the Commoners.
“The CAG hopes that his Pontificate, as his adopted name, Pope Leo XIV suggests, will be inspired by Pope Leo XIII, who was called the Pope of Catholic Social Teaching, so as to promote and uphold the fundamental Human and Christian values, particularly truth, justice, peace, equality and dignity of every human being, irrespective of creed, caste or class.”
“The CAG prays that the New Pope, a Canon Law Expert, will strengthen and renew the Church functioning, wherever required, to respond effectively to the felt pastoral needs of the Church in the modern World without sacrificing Christ’s core teachings and values.”
As an accomplished member of the illustrious Augustinian Order, the CAG envisions the Holy Father will strive to build bridges, within as well as without, and endeavour to deepen Communion in the Church at various levels, so as to be a truly Synodal and Evangelical Church.
In view of the manifold modern-day challenges, the CAG urges every Catholic to fervently pray for Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that he may receive the necessary grace, wisdom and strength to effectively lead the Universal Church in this contemporary information age, so as to be truly the salt, light and leaven of the society and the world.
