Second Pope of the Americas, was born in the United States 69 years ago and was nationalized Peruvian. He dressed in papal After two days of conclave.
In his first Mass as American Pope, the initial song and the prayers were in Latin. The First two readings were in English and Spanish —The languages of the new Pontiff – and the Psalm, in Italian.
Two women, religious and unique women present were selected, to make the readings before the cardinals.
“You called me to carry a cross” They were his first words, pronounced in English. He entered the Sistine wearing the Pastoral Cross of Benedict XVI, also used by Francisco.
Upon exit, the cardinals They fired him with a strong applause.
His choice as Pope number 267 and spiritual leader of 1,400 million Catholics Still surprising faithful in the Plaza de San Pedro and in the world.
“The cardinals made a very good choice”said Barbara Boterberch, an Austrian believer in Jerusalem, who stressed that his story makes him a “migrant” Pope.
Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955, in a family with Origins in Spain and France. He obtained Peruvian nationality in 2015, and was a missionary and bishop in Chiclayo.
The defense of migrants marked the pontificate of his Argentine predecessor. As a cardinal, Prevost criticized immigration policy months ago by US President Donald Trump.
However, according to the Italian press, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, “President Trump’s man in the Vatican”who negotiated support for Premost in the Conclave, as already done in 2013 for Francisco’s choice.
On this occasion, the Purpurados American acted in block. Prevost too He received support from Africa and Asiaand beat the favorite, the Italian Pietro Parolin, according to press reports.
Call to peace
Your choice occurred in the Most numerous and international conclave of the history of the Church, with 133 Cardinals of five continents and about 70 countries.
In front of the cardinals, gathered under the frescoes of Miguel Ángel, Leo XIV officiated his first Mass as a pontiff, in which he was expected to give signs of his pontificate future.
In his first speech on May 8 he made a “Call for Peace” to “all peoples”, urging “building bridges” through “dialogue”, “without fear, united, giving hand to God and among us.”
Your choice and His words were praised by international leaders From the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Ukraine, Russia and Spain.
“I am looking forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a great moment!” Said Donald Trump, who considered a “Great honor” May the Pope be American.
The next acts of the new Pontiff include imparting the blessing Regina Coeli Sunday from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro and receive the press on Monday.
His investiture, through a mass before political and religious leaders around the world, still has no date.
In safe hands
Leo XIV assumes a church with challenges such as clerical pedophilia, vocations crisis and the role of women. To this are added global conflicts, populist governments and the climatic crisis.
The cardinals sought continuity, according to experts, although they expect the new Pope adopt a more formal style that his predecessor, whose exercise of power was personal and even fragile.
“We are in good hands”said Michael Angelo Dacalos, 35 -year -old Filipino priest. He stressed that the choice of name is a good sign, since Leo XIII was “very active in social justice.”