On learning of the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new Pope, María Dolores García expressed her joy, stressing that ‘it was great news that the cardinals had the unity to elect the Pope in such a short space of time. This is a great joy for the whole Church, reflected in the faithful who were in St. Peter's Square in Rome. We have followed his election as a family, we have been in communication by videoconference with those who are away, in Madrid and in Poland. As soon as we saw the white smoke we made the bells of Los Jerónimos ring; it was a moment of great joy’. 

The UCAM President made these statements after the first Urbi et Orbi blessing of the Holy Father, adding that ‘the Holy Spirit has made himself present. Pope Francis dies and the Church is left with a sense of orphanhood, for Francis has been a shepherd for all, and now we are happy because we have a new father who will guide us at God's own request. The new Pope knows the Church in mission, as he has been a bishop in Peru, and I think he will follow this line of being close to the poorest’.