I have had the grace of meeting Pope Leo, and in his presence I have discovered something more than a shepherd: I have seen a man who listens with the ear of his heart, who speaks with the serenity of one who prays, and whose gaze embraces like a sacrament. His prudence is not a fearful silence, but a wisdom that discerns and dares to point the way. His commitment is not limited to diplomatic gestures: it is a radical commitment to the Gospel, to justice, to peace, and to the care of the Earth, our common home entrusted to us and today in agony.

There are moments in history that taste of spring. The beginning of this new pontificate is one of them. With hearts aflame and eyes open, we recognize that the Holy Spirit has once again surprised us. He has lifted up the Church, set us on our journey, and revealed that hope is not a naive dream, but a force that uplifts peoples, keeps the weary moving forward, and lights the light in the midst of darkness.