“Peace be with all of you!” — the first words of Pope Leo XIV, newly elected leader of the Catholic Church. Just hours ago, from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the traditional announcement rang out: Annuntio vobis gaudium: Habemus Papam! I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope.

Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost has been elected the 267th Bishop of Rome, taking the name Leo XIV. This is a moment of significance for Catholic communities around the world, including here at Damascus College. As a school in the Mercy tradition and part of the Diocese of Ballarat, we acknowledge this new chapter in the life of the Church.

Whether we personally identify with the Catholic faith or not, this moment invites us to reflect on leadership, hope, and our shared vocation in education. In Pope Leo XIV’s simple and generous greeting—“Peace be with all of you”—we hear a call that resonates deeply with our mission: to be people of peace, integrity, and compassion in the lives of young people and in our community.

May this new papacy bring renewed energy to the values we hold dear: dignity, justice, and the transformative power of learning.

As a diverse and inclusive community, we honour this new chapter with openness and reflection. May it be a time of renewal for those who find meaning in faith, and a reminder to us all of the values that bind us together in education and humanity.

We offer our warmest wishes and prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his papal ministry, may his leadership be marked by wisdom, courage, and peace.