Claire Castaing on Pope Leo XIV

What is your first impression? [From 2:28 to 3:12]

I think he really is continuing in the same vein. He greeted the crowd, he first called for peace and wished for peace, not only for the Catholic Church, but for the whole world, and I think that’s the message that moved me the most. And then the first person he quoted was Pope Francis, in front of his fellow cardinals. It’s clear that he’s continuing along the path of a Church that is perhaps simpler, more synodal, and ultimately more inclusive of everyone, not just those on the inside, but also those on the outside, reaching out to them. In this sense, I think he’s completely following in the footsteps of Pope Francis.

You were in St. Peter’s Square with tens of thousands of people. What was that moment like? What was the mood? Can you describe that moment for us? [From 3:12 to 3:50]

For me, it was a very exciting moment because you feel caught up in the crowd, which is gathered and waiting, filled with joy, but a restrained joy – it’s not like at a football game. At the same time, you can sense a happy and receptive crowd that is also giving thanks to the Lord, and I think it’s good for the world to have such peaceful and jubilant crowds.

And peace… he repeated it several times, he began his speech, this urbi et orbi blessing to the city and to the world with this powerful call for peace. This call for peace: is it important? [From 5:44 to 6:06]

So, I think it’s important in a world where we hear about conflicts every day; there are perhaps 80 countries, 80 conflicts in the world right now, and to have a voice that rises up and says that the world could live in peace and that everyone, wherever they are, within their own circumstances, can build peace, I think that’s quite visionary.