Redaccion
The bishops of Bilbao, Joseba Segura; San Sebastián, Fernando Prado Ayuso; and Vitoria, Juan Carlos Elizalde; have welcomed the new pope, León XIV, and the Basque churches have rung their bells in jubilation following the white smoke that announced the appointment of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the head of the Catholic Church.
The Bishop of Vitoria has made public a letter addressed to the new pope in which, on behalf of the Church that pilgrims in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Treviño, and Orduña, «with filial adherence to Peter and in communion with the entire Universal Church,» thanks him and congratulates him on his appointment.
«From the emotional remembrance of our beloved Pope Francis and with profound joy for being direct witnesses of the Primacy of Apostolic Succession, the Diocese of Vitoria warmly welcomes you as the new Successor of Peter and Shepherd of the Universal Church. We join the worldwide jubilation for your election in the Sistine Chapel inspired by the Holy Spirit, thanking the Lord for the gift of your person, your dedicated life, and your generous ‘yes’ to the call of Jesus Christ to shepherd the Church from today,» the letter reads.
From the particular Church of which he is bishop, successor of the Apostles, «in faithful communion with His Holiness and with all the bishops of the world,» he expresses his closeness and assures his prayer as a «deep gesture of fidelity» to the pope. «We welcome you with open hearts, with a sincere desire to walk together, as the People of God, in the evangelizing mission that the Lord entrusts to us at the midpoint of the Jubilee of Hope,» he adds.
From this local Church, «a cradle of missionaries and of priestly, religious, and matrimonial vocations,» Elizalde implores «the Good Shepherd and his Most Holy Mother, in the invocations of the White Virgin and the Virgin of Estíbaliz,» patrons of the city of Vitoria and the province of Álava, to fill him with «wisdom and strength, mercy and tenderness, courage and perseverance to guide the Church of the third millennium.»
Likewise, the Bishop of Vitoria asks for the intercession «of the saints Peter and Paul and of all the apostles, of San Prudencio, of Santa Josefa, of the Blessed Pedro de Asúa and of all the saints and holy men and women of God so that his teaching, his life, and leadership inspire all of us to live with greater fidelity to the Gospel.»
Pointing out that he will be able to greet him personally in November when he pilgrimages to Rome as the Diocese of Vitoria during the Jubilee, he conveys to León XIV that in the «mission that the Lord entrusts to him, he is not alone.»
Finally, he assures the new pope that he has the «constant» prayer of the Diocese of Vitoria: of its priests, religious men and women, seminarians, laymen and laywomen, youth, families, elderly, and children. «We all embrace you in Christ with sincere and emotional affection as sons and daughters of God. With filial affection, asking for your blessing for the entire Diocese, a hug,» concludes the letter.
BISHOP OF SAN SEBASTIÁN
On his part, the Bishop of San Sebastián, Fernando Prado Ayuso, has posted a message on social media stating that León XIV is «a pope for peace.» «Peace comes from God who loves us all with unconditional love. Let us all unite to build bridges. Peace, Synodality, closeness to those who suffer,» he adds.
He also highlights that the bells of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd have rung «with joy in knowing that a new successor of Peter, bishop of Rome, now presides over our Churches in charity. Zorionak!»
Also through social media, the Diocese of Bilbao has received the appointment of the new pope with the message: «Synodality, walking together, beloved, humble and persevering peace.» «Peace be with you all,» he adds.
