Pope Leo XIV greets the general public for the primary time from the principle balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Photographs
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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Photographs
About 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide have a brand new religious chief: Pope Leo XIV.
The election of Robert Francis Prevost, who selected the title Leo XIV, because the 267th chief of the Roman Catholic Church marks two historic firsts. Leo is the first-ever U.S.-born pope to guide the church and the primary pope from the Augustinian order.
On Thursday, the brand new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and delivered a brief speech. His opening phrases had been “Peace be with all of you!”
The 69-year-old pontiff added that he wished his message of peace to “enter your hearts, attain your households and all individuals, wherever they’re.” Throughout his deal with, he spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin.
The brand new pope thanked his fellow cardinals for choosing him. He additionally expressed gratitude to his former diocese in Peru and spoke warmly of Pope Francis, his late predecessor, earlier than ending his remarks with a prayer.
Social media sheds gentle on the brand new pope’s perception system
Leo is understood to share a few of the similar priorities as Francis, notably in the case of the atmosphere and outreach to migrants and the poor, in accordance with The Faculty of Cardinals Report, a useful resource created by a staff of Vatican journalists.
On his X account, Leo has just lately posted and reposted content material important of President Trump’s immigration strategy and of Vice President JD Vance’s views on faith.
He additionally shared messages in help of vaccination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests within the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.
“We have to hear extra from leaders within the Church, to reject racism and search justice,” he mentioned in a 2020 tweet.
Pope Leo’s background
The brand new pope was born in Chicago in 1955, in accordance with Vatican Information. His father is of French and Italian descent, whereas his mom is of Spanish descent.
Leo studied on the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He went on to attend Villanova College in Pennsylvania, the place he acquired a level in arithmetic. He later pursued his theological schooling on the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Though the brand new pontiff is American, probably the most important chapters of his ministry occurred in Peru. Prevost served there for roughly 20 years. He was appointed as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, promoted to archbishop in 2023, after which cardinal within the following yr. Over the course of his profession, he has additionally taught canon legislation, patristics and ethical legislation.
Rev. Robert Hagan, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, instructed NPR’s All Issues Thought-about that he was a scholar when he met Pope Leo over dinner. Hagan mentioned that again then he might inform that Leo embodied the core worth of Augustinian Fathers — friendship.
“We’re speechless,” Hagan mentioned. “We actually are, we’re overjoyed. When he appeared on that balcony it was like seeing a member of the family step up and we’re simply so glad. Not only for him however for the world.”
