The inner workings of papal conclaves are often shrouded in mystery, journalistic speculation, and dense Vatican secrecy. However, for Monsignor Luis Marín de San Martín, an Augustinian archbishop and current prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, the election of Leo XIV (the then-Cardinal Roberto Prevost) was no surprise.

“I always said he was my candidate and that he was going to be elected. I told some journalists and fellow believers before,” he confesses with a smile. His certainty didn’t stem from political intuition, but from a deep brotherhood: they shared a religious community for five years. Today, from the offices of the former Apostolic Almoner’s Office, Marín de San Martín analyzes in this interview the figure of a Pope who combines North American organizational rigor with the heartbeat of a profoundly Peruvian soul.

Behind the cassock: A Pope of personal connection

In contrast to the public perception of a Pope who advances slowly and thoughtfully, Monsignor Marín defines Leo XIV from a strictly spiritual dimension that transcends any secular label.

“The first thing we must keep in mind is that he is a man of God. If we do not grasp his religious dimension and his profound prayer, we will not understand the person. He is not a politician, he is not a social leader, he is not a professor.”

Unlike more expansive profiles, the archbishop emphasizes that the new Pope excels in closeness:

• Serene and decisive:  A calm leader who trusts people, shares responsibilities, but knows how to make firm decisions looking out for the good of the Church.
• The value of closeness:  He is a man of “short distances”, extremely cordial and with an enormous load of humanity towards the most disadvantaged.
• Connected to his time:  A pastor attentive to scientific and technological advances, able to read the signs of the present era.

The real Conclave versus the media Conclave

Despite press predictions of a complex and fragmented vote due to the fact that many cardinals barely knew each other, the reality behind closed doors was drastically different. Leo XIV was elected in just four ballots.

The secret? His low profile and unanimous acceptance. “No one spoke ill of him. They saw in him a true pontiff: a bridge-builder who seeks to strengthen communion and doesn’t go against anyone,” explains Monsignor Marín.

The “Leo XIV effect”: An avalanche in the Papal Almonry

As the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, Monsignor Marín manages what has historically been known as the Office of Papal Almoner. One of the immediate consequences of the new Pope’s election has been the  complete collapse of the system of papal blessings and parchments .

Currently, requests have reached a physical limit that is difficult for Vatican staff to manage, forcing them to set a  limit of 500 daily online requests  due to the avalanche of the faithful.

Important note about the parchments:  “The blessing is free; there is no price to be put on it. The donation covers the cost of the materials and the artisans’ work, and the rest goes entirely to the Pope’s charitable works. Whoever orders a parchment is directly funding a meal or a shower for a homeless person,” the prefect explains.

A charity structure that never stops

Beyond the official documents, the Dicastery functions as a social aid machine both in Rome and internationally:

• Local care:  Under the colonnade of St. Peter’s, clinics operate where  120 volunteer doctors  provide free care to the poor in all specialties, in addition to offering shower services, dormitories and food distribution in the outskirts.
• International aid:  The Dicastery maintains a direct line of communication with nunciatures in conflict zones. They recently sent their  150th truckload of humanitarian aid to Ukraine  and continue to operate active programs in Lebanon.

Next stop: Spain and a strong social agenda

The archbishop enthusiastically confirmed that he will accompany the Pope on his upcoming apostolic journey to Spain, a country that has gone 15 years without a papal visit. The itinerary, which will take him to Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and the Canary Islands, will be strongly marked by the social reality of exclusion.

• Canary Islands:  Priority focus on the migration crisis and reception.
• Madrid and Barcelona:  Planned visits to inclusion centers, prisons and realities of urban loneliness.

Monsignor Marín is confident that this trip will act as a catalyst for European Catholicism: “I hope that after the visit there will be a real evangelizing impulse in Spain. We Christians must not reduce ourselves to laments, sadness, or criticisms that paralyze us. It is time to bring the joy of Christ to a world thirsting for coherence.”