Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary and former bishop in Peru, has been elected as the new pope — the first American to ascend to the papacy in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost, 69, addressed the faithful for the first time from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, greeting the crowd with the words, “Peace be with you.” His message centered on peace, dialogue, and missionary outreach. Marking a contrast with his predecessor, he donned the traditional red papal cape that Pope Francis had declined in 2013. Leo XIV delivered his remarks in Italian and Spanish, but not in English.
Key Highlights:
Who is Robert Prevost? Pope Francis appointed Prevost in 2023 to lead the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, the department responsible for reviewing and recommending bishop appointments worldwide. This role gave him significant influence and visibility heading into the conclave.
His Religious Order: Leo XIV is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, a religious community guided by the principle of living “with one mind and one heart on the journey toward God.” He becomes the seventh pope to come from the Augustinian order.
How Was He Chosen? The new pontiff was elected during a closed-door conclave of 135 cardinal-electors. The process was conducted in strict secrecy, and the results of the ballots remain confidential.
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Source: Vietnam Insider