Thus, Guatemala celebrated the choice of Pope Leo XIV, Successor of Francisco

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May 9, 2025May 9, 2025By Mario Vásquez
Thus, Guatemala celebrated the choice of Pope Leo XIV, Successor of Francisco

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The Catholic Church of Guatemala celebrated the choice of the new Pope, Leo XIV, with the repique of bells in temples of the country.

Vatican City. Conclave (Pope, Cardinal) EFE/EPA/ETTORE FERRARI

The newly chosen Pope Leo XIV greets thousands of faithful from the central lodge of the Basilica of San Pedro, after his choice on the second day of the conclave. (Free Press Photo: EFE/EPA/ETTORE FERRARI)

Thousands of Catholics in the world celebrated with joy this Thursday, May 8, the election of the American-Peruano Robert Francis Prevosts such as Pope Leo XIV, and Guatemala was no exception, since several churches played their bells when the white smoke came out through the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican.

Prevost becomes the number 267 pontiff in history, after being chosen by the 133 cardinals gathered on the second day of conclave, which has opted for a profile very close to that of its predecessor, Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV will also be the second Latin American Pontiff in history, because, although he was born in 1955 in Chicago, the USA, his ecclesiastical career has passed mainly in Peru, where Francisco appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo in 2018 and received Peruvian nationality.

The Guatemalans also celebrated, and several churches repressed their bells after it was known that the cardinals had reached an agreement to choose the new Supreme Pontiff, after the death of the Jesuit Francisco.

One of the first churches to react was the Metropolitan Cathedral, where the bell repique announced the choice of the new Pope.

In the Cathedral of Quetzaltenango, the Reique also marked the announcement of Francisco’s successor. Other churches in the capital joined the celebration for the choice of Pope Leo XIV and repressed their bells.

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