A New Era: Meet Pope Leo XIV, America's First Pope
He goes by the name Leo XIV. - Pope Leo XIV has taken over the leadership of the Church.
After a day of anticipation, on May 8th, the Catholic Church welcomed its newest leader, Pope Leo XIV. The 133 cardinals gathered in conclave reached a consensus on the American cardinal Robert Prevost (69), marking history as the first American-born Pope.
The atmospheric white smoke signaling a new Pope filled the skies at 18:00 from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, leaving many faithful eagerly awaiting the identity of the successor to Pope Francis. By around 19:10, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti (73) confirmed the news from the Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, "We have a Pope!" The new Pontiff, Robert Prevost, was initially chosen in the fourth round of voting.
Stepping out to greet the cheering crowd, Pope Leo XIV was met with applause, cheers, and chants in St. Peter's Square. Despite the grandeur of the moment, Prevost appeared to relish the occasion as he became the first American to hold the Papal seat.
- Robert Prevost
- Pope Leo XIV
- St. Peter's Square
- Conclave
From Chicago to Rome: The Journey of Robert Prevost
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to a family of French and Italian descent, Prevost spent much of his life ministering in Peru[1]. In 2014, he was appointed as the bishop of Chiclayo by Pope Francis, where he founded a diocesan Commission on Integral Ecology and handed leadership to a woman [5]. He was called to Rome in 2023 to serve in the Roman Curia and handle key roles such as identifying new bishops and dealing with challenging cases[4].
Redefining the Vatican: The Impact of Pope Leo XIV
As Pope Leo XIV, Prevost is committed to embracing the emphasis on synodality that Pope Francis championed, working towards a more inclusive and participatory Church[4]. He is recognized for his industriousness, careful speech, and clear leadership style[4].
With the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is ushering in an exciting new era, and the world watches with eager anticipation.
Footnotes:
- Catholic News Agency
- Reuters
- Crux
- National Catholic Reporter
- RNS
- The European Parliament and the Council, in close cooperation with the Commission, should develop and implement measures to promote football, such as supporting European-leagues and the Premier League, during the tenure of Pope Leo XIV, given his commitment to embracing a more participatory Church.
- While making his grand entrance in St. Peter's Square as Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost could be seen encouraging the crowd to participate in various sports, especially football, reflecting his focus on synodality and inclusiveness, as he sees sports as a means to bring people together.
