A bishop friend of mine told me several days ago that he daily receives my blog, Joan’s Rome, via email but he never sees the photos I post. I was so surprised that I clicked on an email version of the November 11 Joan’s Rome and, sure enough, no photos, just text! HOWEVER, when I clicked on the words, “Read on blog,” the full story, photos and all, appeared on my screen. If you or anyone you know receives Joan’s Rome via email, please know you will get the full story, the original Joan’s Rome, pictures and all, by clicking on those three little words: Read on blog.” Hopefully that can be corrected.
| Joan’s Rome Read on blog | Read on blog or Reader |
By Joan Lewis on November 11, 2025
**********************************************************
WHO IS “LEO FROM CHICAGO” AKA “FATHER BOB”?
By the way, if you did click on the link I gave you for the Vatican documentary, “Leo from Chicago,” I’m sure some of the reflections from his brothers as well as longtime friends, classmates and teachers at school and in the seminary were quite illuminating (and often humorous). We learned that Bob Prevost, Fr. Bob
– is known to be a great listener, a person who listens attentively to others and reflects deeply before making a comment or decision on a topic;
– is known for his great intellect;
– has a wonderful capacity to defuse difficult situations as he demonstrated barely into his teen years;
– has a calmness and unflappability that has amazed people for years;
– has a great sense of humor;
– absolutely loves to drive a car, enjoying rides with friends or being alone which he saw as a quiet time to think, reflect or pray. One longtime friend pondered the idea of Leo XIV someday driving the popemobile!
– Pope Leo has always loved pizza, especially from Aurelio’s in Chicago. In fact, Aurelio’s website notes: “We have created the Poperoni™ Pizza to honor the Pope’s most recent visit and love of Aurelio’s Pizza.”
HUMAN FRATERNITY, JESUS’ COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
On yet another splendid November day, Pope Leo presided at the weekly general audience in a sunny St. Peter’s Square, first circling among the faithful in the white papal jeep for about 15 minutes, then delivering the catechesis and, in closing, meeting individually with a number of cardinals, bishops and lay faithful.
Continuing the catechesis cycle “Jubilee 2025: Jesus Christ Our Hope,” the Holy Father again focused on the Resurrection of Christ and the challenges of today’s world, highlighting how Easter spirituality animates fraternity as Jesus told his disciples. “Love One Another As I Have Loved You”
“Dear brothers and sisters,” began Pope Leo, “in our continuing catechesis on Jesus our hope, today we consider human fraternity and Jesus’ commandment to love one another. Our lives are built upon many relationships, which we need in order to thrive. When our daily interactions with others are genuine rather than mere polite formalities, we grow in joy and in love. In this regard, Saint Francis of Assisi is an excellent example, for he greeted all whom he met as brother or sister. Saint Francis knew that everyone has the same needs: to be respected, welcomed, heard and saved.”
“Indeed,” Leo emphasized, “this is the Good News and a core tenet of our Christian faith. God’s saving love is for everyone, no exceptions. Thus, Jesus commands us to imitate his love so that we might become sons and daughters of our one Father.”
“To believe in the death and resurrection of Christ and to live paschal spirituality imbues life with hope and encourages us to invest in goodness. In particular, it helps us to love and nurture fraternity, which is without doubt one of the great challenges for contemporary humanity, as Pope Francis saw clearly. “
Leo explained that, “We are well aware that even today fraternity cannot be taken for granted, it is not immediate. Many conflicts, many wars all over the world, social tensions and feelings of hatred would seem to prove the opposite. However, fraternity is not a beautiful but impossible dream; it is not the desire of a deluded few. But to overcome the shadows that threaten it, we need to go to the source, and above all to draw light and strength from Him who alone frees us from the poison of enmity.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV said, “As brothers and sisters in Christ, we build bonds of unity and trust when we support each other and do not turn our backs on those in need. May the Lord free us from all selfishness and division and renew us in hope that we may faithfully imitate his generous love for all people.”
Joan's Rome 