After the White Smoke

Trusting the Voice that never changes in a world that always does

So, he’s there—the new Pope. We waited and prayed. The cardinals listened. They cast their votes. And somewhere, through all our human frailty, the Holy Spirit moved. Now we have a new shepherd: Pope Leo XIV.

The questions will come quickly: What kind of shepherd will he be? Is he like John Paul II, Benedict XVI, or Francis? Is he conservative? Progressive? A healer? A fighter? The headlines will spin. The commentators will weigh every word, every silence. Stories from the past will be unearthed. Comparisons will be drawn like battle lines.

But in the end, none of that truly matters. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once observed, the Church will place its confidence only in the simple servant of the Word of God, the man guided by the Word of the Good Shepherd.

If you want to know what the new Pope is like, listen to the voice of the One who shepherds him. Listen to Christ. Not the Christ of passing opinions. Not the Christ of agendas or slogans. But the Christ who speaks in the quiet of the Gospel.

So, a small invitation. Turn off the news for a moment. Pick up the Bible. Open the Gospel of Luke. Read it slowly, front to back, like a pilgrim crossing unfamiliar ground.

And as you walk through Luke’s pages, look for Jesus’ patience with the lost. Look for His gentleness with doubters. Look for His mercy for those who feel forgotten. Look for His peace. Meet Christ again – or perhaps for the first time.

Learn to recognise His voice.

Learn to trust His patience.

Learn to rest in His mercy that never fails.

And as you read, pray. Pray for Pope Leo XIV, that he may be led by the Shepherd who never forgets His sheep. Pray for the Church, that we may listen more than we judge. And pray for yourself, that you may hear the quiet voice calling you home.

In the end, it is not the shepherd's strength that saves the flock. It is the voice of the Good Shepherd that leads us safely through the upheavals of our world – and into the Kingdom of God.

Peace be with you all!