“You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

These words of Christ, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, are engrained in us as Catholics.

They express to us the will of Christ in the selection of one man in each moment of history whose humanity will, in a special way, keep us faithful to friendship with Jesus. The election of our new Holy Father Pope Francis makes clear that these words are not simply history written in the Gospels. Instead, they are essential to our love for the Catholic Church and our friendship with Christ himself, even today.

To Peter 2,000 years ago and to Francis today are entrusted the Keys of the Kingdom. Endowed with God’s help beyond their merits or their abilities, the popes are the source of unity in our faith. Not just one more voice among many, the Holy Father is, in every age, the face of the Church. Our love for him and for his role is part of what makes our acceptance of the faith and the message of Christ complete.

In the days moving toward the election of Pope Francis, it was hard to avoid the media speculation. Most of it tried to explain the process in a manner parallel to our recent elections: progressives (good) versus tradition (not good). Problems of administration and the usual dime-store novel depiction of cardinals and Vatican procedures abounded.

But then what did we see ­—images of the cardinals putting away all their technology and returning to basics. They processed on television to the Sistine Chapel after being exhorted to think and pray and vote for the good of the Church and the good of their souls. With the voice of singing to invoke the saints of the ages, and accompanied by the prayers of the faithful throughout the world including in Northern Illinois, they withdrew from phones and contact with the press to think and pray and even speak to each other, preparing for the sacred moment. And their selection of the new pope has shown that they (and we) believe what they (and we) say that we believe. Thank God for this witness.

The moment when Pope Francis was announced and when he first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica will be one of those moments that everyone will recall where they were. What will ever be striking is the first image of this new pope, overlooking the crowd as if momentarily uncertain, then showing his humility and the image of Christ that is his personality. Who will forget his bow and his request for prayers that God bless him, before he blessed us? Who has not been moved by the first images of a pope calling us back to Francis of Assisi?

Pope Francis’ first messages to the world have had three points: love the poor, have the courage to be a follower of Jesus, and don’t give in to pessimism or bitterness, and this in the context of the unchanging faith of the Church. This simple man, readily invoking the prayers of Mary, has already begun to show us the way he will strengthen our faith as Peter did for his brothers and sisters.

As we head into Holy Week with this new and so inspiring Holy Father, let’s not forget to thank Christ and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this gift, this man, this rock for our faith. Pope Francis, congratulations! You go forward with the prayers, the gratitude and the love of the Diocese of Rockford!