‘Peace Be Upon You’ were the first words of Pope Leo XIV: Keralite confessor

Kochi: "Peace Be Upon You," were the first words Pope Leo XIV uttered according to Fr Sebastian Pendanath, a Keralite confessor at the Vaticanfor the past 15 years."We all were waiting to see the result. It was around 6pm local time (9.30pm IST) that we saw white smoke emerging from Sistine Chapel. Then, we knew the new pope was chosen," Fr Pendanath told TOI over the phone."In a few minutes, he appeared on the balcony ofSt Peter's Basilica in his official dress. His first words were ‘Peace Be Upon You'. Given the unrest and wars going on in different parts of the world, we felt it the most welcoming and soothing. Then he recited a prayer (indulgence)," said Fr Pendanath."It was for the first time I witnessed such a holy situation. When Pope Fracis was elected, I was away at home. Most of us were expecting an Italian to become the pope. And the result came as a surprise for us," he said.