Wydawnictwo Biały Kruk: Year of Leon XIV pontificate
date:13 May 2026 Editor: Anna
“We are disciples of Christ. Christ is coming before us. The planet needs His light. Mankind needs him as a bridge so that God and his love can scope him. aid us also, and each other, to build a bridge through dialogue, meeting, uniting all to be 1 people, always in peace” — Leon XIV
It is precisely 1 year since white smoke rose over the Sistine Chapel, and the Church heard the words “Habemus Papam”. May 8, 2025, card. Robert Provost was elected the successor of Saint Peter, assuming the name Leon XIV. From the first moments, his pontificate has been read as a call to rebuild the spiritual unity of the planet and return to Christianity and a reminder that the Church cannot lose her identity.
The anniversary of the election of Pope Leon XIV is besides an chance to callback the unique publication of the White Kruk – “Leon XIV. Illustrated Biography” by Dr. Adam Sosnowski and Fr. The book was awarded the St Maximilian Prize of Maria Kolbe SDP for spiritual Publications. Reports and comments from the Conclave and the beginning of Leon XIV's pontificate published on YouTube channel White Crow TV, which watched over a million people.
We print a passage of the book describing the extraordinary atmosphere of Leon XIV's historical election day and the Pope's first words, which for many faithful have become 1 of the most crucial spiritual messages of fresh years – a call to peace, unity and return to Christ.
"When on May 8th – on the day of St. Stanislaus, the patron of Poland! – a white streak of smoke appeared in the sky above the basilica, people began to run, literally. From all sides – to St. Peter's Square," says Dr. Adam Sosnowski.
As the author emphasizes, the first gestures of Leon XIV were equally meaningful:
"On his shoulders he imposed a red papal mozzetta – an component of the costume his predecessor gave up on – not pride or power. It was a motion rooted in tradition, dating back to the time erstwhile the Church consciously took over any of the symbols of the erstwhile Roman Empire, transforming them and giving them fresh evangelical meaning: from military power to love civilization.
However, it is worth noting that this return to symbolism did not begin with the choice of cards. Robert Prevost. After the death of Pope Francis, we saw a turn towards tradition in Rome: more solemn liturgies, classical robes, greater care for the ritual. These were not random details—it was a evidence that even those who had previously zealously supported Francis' style, now remembered that the Church did not choose “the successor of Francis” but “the successor of Peter.” This requires seriousness, respect and continuity.
But rituals only make sense if they are rooted in the faith. Otherwise, they become empty theatrical gestures. But erstwhile they are authentic, lived with faith, they gain deep meaning – they become the language of the sacrum that guides man towards God. That's the point of the liturgy: not effective, but meeting. A gathering with a Mystery greater than words. Of course, the beautification of the liturgy helps greatly in her endurance (...).
In his first speech, Holy Father Leon XIV clearly indicated the direction of his pontificate. He spoke not of himself, but of Christ:
‘Christ is coming ahead. The planet needs His light.’
These words of Leon XIV were neither a political manifesto nor an empty gesture. They were simple and deep. They were derived from a Christocentric spirituality that immediately marked the direction of his pontificate. As we will see on the pages of this book, Christocentricity is simply a key component of Robert Prevost's spirituality at least since the seminarical era. His first words after his election were not an accident, but a climax of a mature attitude from an early age. Leon XIV does not obliterate borders or effort to delight everyone. Instead, it clearly indicates: the center of the Church, the center of our faith, the center of human past is Christ.
“Christ is coming before us” is an echo of the old Christian creed that Jesus is the Shepherd who guides his people through the darkness of the planet toward the Father’s light. In those first words, Pope Leon showed that he did not want to be a leader or political leader, but a disciple and servant of Jesus. He points to Christ as the only Mediator who can contact people's hearts and transform the world. Leon XIV, after his election, repeatedly stressed the importance of the fact that the first Sunday he experienced as Pope was the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. ‘I think of the Good Shepherd, especially this Sunday, which is so crucial in the Easter period. The minute we celebrate the beginning of this fresh ministry mission to which the Church called me, there is no better pattern than Jesus Christ himself – The 1 to whom we give our lives and on whom we trust completely. Jesus Christ, whom we follow--He is the Good Shepherd, He gives us life: he is the way, the fact and the life."
A fragment of the book "Leon XIV. Illustration Biography", by Dr. Adam Sosnowski and Fr.Prof. Janusz Królikowski, Wyd. Biały Kruk: https://bialykruk.pl/ksiegarnia/ksiazki/leon-xiv-biography-illustrated
First HOMILIA LEON XIV. We're building a church together.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/oDyf7P_gtj8
We print a passage of the book describing the extraordinary atmosphere of Leon XIV's historical election day and the Pope's first words, which for many faithful have become 1 of the most crucial spiritual messages of fresh years – a call to peace, unity and return to Christ.
"When on May 8th – on the day of St. Stanislaus, the patron of Poland! – a white streak of smoke appeared in the sky above the basilica, people began to run, literally. From all sides – to St. Peter's Square," says Dr. Adam Sosnowski.
As the author emphasizes, the first gestures of Leon XIV were equally meaningful:
"On his shoulders he imposed a red papal mozzetta – an component of the costume his predecessor gave up on – not pride or power. It was a motion rooted in tradition, dating back to the time erstwhile the Church consciously took over any of the symbols of the erstwhile Roman Empire, transforming them and giving them fresh evangelical meaning: from military power to love civilization.
However, it is worth noting that this return to symbolism did not begin with the choice of cards. Robert Prevost. After the death of Pope Francis, we saw a turn towards tradition in Rome: more solemn liturgies, classical robes, greater care for the ritual. These were not random details—it was a evidence that even those who had previously zealously supported Francis' style, now remembered that the Church did not choose “the successor of Francis” but “the successor of Peter.” This requires seriousness, respect and continuity.
But rituals only make sense if they are rooted in the faith. Otherwise, they become empty theatrical gestures. But erstwhile they are authentic, lived with faith, they gain deep meaning – they become the language of the sacrum that guides man towards God. That's the point of the liturgy: not effective, but meeting. A gathering with a Mystery greater than words. Of course, the beautification of the liturgy helps greatly in her endurance (...).
In his first speech, Holy Father Leon XIV clearly indicated the direction of his pontificate. He spoke not of himself, but of Christ:
‘Christ is coming ahead. The planet needs His light.’
These words of Leon XIV were neither a political manifesto nor an empty gesture. They were simple and deep. They were derived from a Christocentric spirituality that immediately marked the direction of his pontificate. As we will see on the pages of this book, Christocentricity is simply a key component of Robert Prevost's spirituality at least since the seminarical era. His first words after his election were not an accident, but a climax of a mature attitude from an early age. Leon XIV does not obliterate borders or effort to delight everyone. Instead, it clearly indicates: the center of the Church, the center of our faith, the center of human past is Christ.
“Christ is coming before us” is an echo of the old Christian creed that Jesus is the Shepherd who guides his people through the darkness of the planet toward the Father’s light. In those first words, Pope Leon showed that he did not want to be a leader or political leader, but a disciple and servant of Jesus. He points to Christ as the only Mediator who can contact people's hearts and transform the world. Leon XIV, after his election, repeatedly stressed the importance of the fact that the first Sunday he experienced as Pope was the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. ‘I think of the Good Shepherd, especially this Sunday, which is so crucial in the Easter period. The minute we celebrate the beginning of this fresh ministry mission to which the Church called me, there is no better pattern than Jesus Christ himself – The 1 to whom we give our lives and on whom we trust completely. Jesus Christ, whom we follow--He is the Good Shepherd, He gives us life: he is the way, the fact and the life."
A fragment of the book "Leon XIV. Illustration Biography", by Dr. Adam Sosnowski and Fr.Prof. Janusz Królikowski, Wyd. Biały Kruk: https://bialykruk.pl/ksiegarnia/ksiazki/leon-xiv-biography-illustrated
First HOMILIA LEON XIV. We're building a church together.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/oDyf7P_gtj8
Photos for the article :
Photos for the article :
