I was invited to speak at “Creation Day & the Nicaea Centenary: Crystallizing the Ecumenical Dream of the New Liturgical Feast” in Assisi, held May 5–7. The ecumenical conference aimed to advance a Season of Creation within the broader Christian body, so we might promote climate justice and work for peace on Earth. A core focus was creating a liturgical calendar emphasizing God as Creator and the care of creation.
After the gathering, I extended my trip to spend a few days sightseeing in Rome. What I didn’t expect was the passing of Pope Francis during Easter and the election of Pope Leo XIV during my time in Italy.
I’ve long admired Pope Francis and had always hoped to meet him, though that moment never came. Just two days ago, I visited his tomb at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pay my respects—a quiet, sacred moment that moved me deeply. I gave thanks for his life and ministry, and for how he inspired so many around the world to seek justice and speak up for the vulnerable.
Then, on May 11, I stood among thousands in St. Peter’s Square as Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Sunday address, greeted by thunderous cheers and applause. He issued a passionate appeal for “no more war” and led the crowd in the Regina Caeli prayer. The atmosphere was electric—a deeply emotional and heartfelt welcome for the new pope.
As an ordained Presbyterian minister, I’m sometimes asked why I care so deeply about the pope, or why his leadership matters to non-Catholics. My answer is simple: we live in an interconnected, ecumenical world. The work of God cannot be done in silos. Whether Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, or from another tradition altogether, we are called to serve side by side—proclaim good news and labor together for peace and justice.
The pope carries enormous influence. His words and actions reverberate beyond the walls of the Vatican, touching lives across faiths and continents. That’s why I’m paying close attention to this new chapter—listening with hope to what Pope Leo XIV might bring to our shared global dialogue.
This morning, I had the privilege of attending Pope Leo’s first press conference as a writer for Good Faith Media. The room erupted in applause as he entered. Calm and composed, he spoke with clarity and conviction, calling for immediate cease-fires in Ukraine and Gaza. He addressed the press not with arrogance, but with humility and strength—an encouraging presence from someone just days into the role.
As a Presbyterian, I felt joy and a deep sense of kinship. His message—of peace, justice and compassion—is exactly what I long to hear from all global and spiritual leaders. When suffering occurs in one part of the world, the entire world feels it. Our interconnectedness is not a poetic idea—it is a pressing, lived reality.
Leaving the press conference felt like walking away from a once-in-a-lifetime concert—an experience I will carry with me, and one I hope to recount to my grandchildren someday.
I pray that Pope Leo’s words ring far and wide and spark a global movement of healing—between peoples and with the Earth itself.
Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Steve Harmon representing Good Faith Media at the papal press conference. (Credit: Grace Ji-Sun Kim)
Tomb of St. Francis (Credit: Grace Ji-Sun Kim)
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