2025 -- H 6331

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING WARM WISHES IN FAITH AND THE BLESSINGS OF HOPE AND PEACE

TO HIS HOLINESS, POPE LEO XIV

     Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Corvese,
Santucci, Azzinaro, Costantino, Perez, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: May 13, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, On the second day of the Conclave, amidst the jubilant ringing of bells at

the Vatican and the thousands of cheering people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, a puff of white

smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signaled that the 133 cardinals working inside had

reached a two-thirds majority and elected the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics; and

     WHEREAS, On May 8th of 2025, the joyful success of the gathering of Catholic

cardinals who had assembled to elect a successor to Pope Francis, elected Cardinal Robert

Francis Prevost of the United States, the first American pontiff in history, who will be known as

Pope Leo XIV; and

     WHEREAS, Pope Leo XIV was born in the United States and is also a citizen of Peru,

where he has spent much of his life in devout service to God. Through that unification, he has

served and blessed the faithful, enriching the spiritual lives of generations of devoted Catholics;

and

     WHEREAS, Leading his first Mass as Pope in the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo XIV called

for “missionary outreach” by the Roman Catholic Church to help heal the “wounds that afflict our

society” and solemnly pledged to align himself with “ordinary people”; and

     WHEREAS, The formal inauguration Mass for Pope Leo XIV will be celebrated on May

18th in St. Peter’s Square. As leader of the Catholic Church, he has pledged to be a “voice for the

voiceless” and has called for the Church to “build bridges”; and

     WHEREAS, The installation of a new Pope inspires and guides the universal Catholic

Church and its millions of followers around the world, providing a great sense of peace and hope

that is ultimately beneficial to all; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

joins the faithful in joyous celebration and extends warmest wishes to His Holiness, Pope Leo

XIV for good health and many more years of benevolent service proclaiming the good news of

the Lord; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, and the Diocese

of Providence.

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