Diocese of Kohima has extended congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th successor to the Apostle Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
In a statement, Bishop’s House stated that the Catholic community in Nagaland joined the Universal Church in what it described as a moment of “profound joy and thanksgiving.”
Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, also conveyed the Diocese’s official message of congratulations. He said that the election of Pope Leo XIV marked a time of grace and renewal for the Catholic Church.
“It is a visible reminder of the abiding guidance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church,” the Bishop stated. Bishop Thoppil highlighted the universal nature of the Church under the leadership of the Pope, emphasizing that Catholicism transcends race, nationality, and language.
The Bishop also noted that the new pontiff’s choice of the name “Leo” recalled the legacy of Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), who in 1886 established the Catholic hierarchy in India and played a foundational role in shaping the missionary and self-sustaining character of the Church in the country. Pope Leo XIII was also known for his landmark 1891 social encyclical Rerum Novarum, which laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching.
Bishop Thoppil remarked that Pope Leo XIV’s name choice likely signals a continuity of commitment to social justice, echoing the priorities of the late Pope Francis. He also pointed out that Pope Leo XIV had previously visited India two decades ago in his capacity as Prior General of the Augustinian Order to attend a priestly ordination.
Calling for prayers for the newly elected Pope, Bishop Thoppil urged all parishes, institutions, and religious communities in Nagaland to offer spiritual support for the Holy Father. “Let us pray that Pope Leo XIV may be a bridge-builder, a father to the poor and marginalized, and a voice of peace and justice in our troubled world,” he said.