Religious News

Peace be with you all!

Last May, tens of thousands of people were gathered in St Peter’s square in Rome. They were waiting for the election of the Pope. Then they saw white smoke coming from the chimney above the Sistine chapel – the traditional sign to say that the cardinals had completed the election. 

Soon after that, Pope Leo came out onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. He came to greet the people in St Peter’s Square and the millions watching on television. He stretched out his arms and said, “Peace be with you all.” He recalled that a greeting of peace was the first greeting of Jesus when he met his disciples after his resurrection. Pope Leo then said, “I would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace!”

Pope Leo began with a message of peace, and he has repeated that message many times since. Peace has been one of Pope Leo’s main themes. It’s also our theme for Catholic Education for 2026.

We wish all of our families a year filled with peace in their lives, in their homes and in their hearts. 

The text above is an excerpt from the Homily of Bishop Paul at the Catholic Schools Opening Mass in Ballarat.