HONG KONG (SE): The Catholic community in Hong Kong welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV with deep gratitude and hope, offering prayers for God’s blessings and strength to be with him as he begins his mission to shepherd the Church in a diverse and rapidly evolving global landscape.
In a press release issued on May 9 by the Diocese of Hong Kong, the day following the pope’s election, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, joined the faithful in offering prayers for the new Holy Father. The statement highlighted the cardinal’s appreciation for Pope Leo’s commitment to building bridges, promoting a synodal Church, and prioritising the needs of the poor—core themes that have inspired Catholics around the world to work towards a more inclusive and compassionate Church.
Prayerful support has since echoed throughout the territory. On May 10, during a Mass for vocations held at Christ the King Chapel in Causeway Bay, vicar general, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, gave thanks for the courage of the new pontiff in accepting his sacred calling. “His courage has set a good example for us to respond to the call of God,” he remarked.
At the closing ceremony of a Caritas fundraising campaign on May 9, Father David Chan, diocesan procurator, led prayers asking that God might grant Pope Leo the wisdom, strength and steadfast faith to lead the Church, uniting the faithful under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Tse Ting-ting, diocesan new media editor and member of the Diocesan Youth Commission, was assigned to cover the papal conclave in Rome for the youth online platform, Boiling Point. Sharing on social media, she described the experience as both physically challenging and spiritually enriching, as she endured the fluctuating weather in St. Peter’s Square.
His [Pope Leo XIV] courage has set a good example for us to respond to the call of God
She was especially moved by the sacred rituals of the conclave, as well as the modern-day measure of the setting aside of mobile phones—an act that, she noted, underscored the cardinals’ desire to place the glory of God and the welfare of the Church above all personal concerns.
Freeman Leung, a Catholic social worker dedicated to grassroots outreach, expressed joy at the newly elected pope’s choice of name. Recalling Pope Leo XIII’s landmark encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which addressed the rights and dignity of workers, Leung hoped that Pope Leo XIV would continue the Church’s legacy of social justice and care for the poor.
“In today’s world, the pope faces many challenges, from internal Church dynamics to heightened scrutiny on social media,” he said. “I will pray for his guidance and strength as he leads the Church through these turbulent times.”
Cheryl Chow, a Catholic artist, shared that after listening to the pope’s first homily and learning about his missionary background, she was deeply moved. “I am thankful that God has given us a pope who cherishes the teachings of the Church and embraces diverse communities. I pray that he may continue to proclaim Christ’s truth to all people, and that divine wisdom may sustain him in reaching hearts both within and beyond the Church,” she said.
It is not a political contest, but a sacred time of prayer and discernment—a process of listening together to the Holy Spirit. Being there with journalists from around the world was truly eye-opening
Tse Ting-ting
Icy Lam, mother of Lucas—a Hong Kong delegate to World Children’s Day last year—expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV will help bring children in Hong Kong and China closer to God. She shared that during a jubilee pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Parish in Fanling, her children wrote prayers for the new pope and placed them on a special prayer wall.
Gracy Tong, vice provincial coordinator of Faith and Light Hong Kong, echoed these sentiments, saying she would continue to pray that Pope Leo XIV carries forward the Church’s attention to people with disabilities in line with the example set by Pope Francis. She recalled with gratitude that she and around 10 community members were able to pay their final respects as Pope Francis lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica upon their arrival in Rome on April 25, as part of the jubilee pilgrimage for people with disabilities.
Reflecting further on her time in Rome, Tse described the conclave as a deeply spiritual event, often misunderstood by secular media. “It is not a political contest, but a sacred time of prayer and discernment—a process of listening together to the Holy Spirit,” she said. “Being there with journalists from around the world was truly eye-opening.”
