First American Pope!!

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"Long Live the Pope!" Crowd Cheers as Robert Prevost Named New Pontiff

Even before his name was announced from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the crowd gathered below was chanting "Viva il Papa"—"Long live the Pope!" After his name was revealed, 69-year-old Robert Prevost was declared the 267th successor to St. Peter, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Robert Prevost is the first American to hold the position, though he's largely considered a Latin American cardinal due to his extensive missionary work in Peru before becoming a bishop there.

Born in Chicago in 1955 to a mother of Spanish and French-Italian descent, Prevost served as an altar boy in his youth and was ordained a priest in 1982. Three years later, he moved to Peru but regularly returned to the United States to serve as a priest in his hometown.

Prevost is highly regarded in Peru for his work with marginalized communities and his efforts to connect them. He spent ten years as a parish priest and seminary teacher in Trujillo, in northwestern Peru.

In his first address as Pope Leo XIV, Prevost paid tribute to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis. "We can still hear the weak but ever-courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed us," he said.

The new Pope also stated, "Let us maintain a close relationship with God. Let us move forward together." He also mentioned his role in the Augustinian community, noting that he went to Peru as part of an Augustinian mission at the age of 30.

Pope Francis appointed Prevost as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He played a significant role in the Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the appointment and supervision of bishops in Latin America, making him a familiar figure to many cardinals.

In January 2023, Leo XIV became an archbishop, and within months, Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal.

Given that 80% of the cardinals participating in the conclave (the secret meeting to elect the new pope) were appointed by Pope Francis, Prevost's election is not entirely surprising.

Pope Leo XIV's Ideology:

His initial statements and actions will be closely watched to see if Pope Leo XIV continues the reform policies of his predecessor, Francis. It's believed that Prevost shares Francis's views on immigrants, the poor, and the environment.

Robert Prevost, the Newly Elected Pope:

Prevost's former roommate, Reverend John Lydon, told the BBC, "Prevost is sociable, pragmatic, and deeply concerned about the poor."

Regarding his personal background, the new Pope told Italian channel RAI that he grew up in an immigrant family. "Although I was born in the United States, my grandparents were immigrants—French, Spanish... I grew up in a devout Catholic family. Both my parents were deeply involved with the church."

While Prevost is American, he is aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church. His Latin American background provides continuity after the Argentine Pope Francis. The Vatican has described him as the second American (North and South America) and the first Augustinian Pope.

During his time in Peru, Prevost could not completely escape the shadow of church sexual abuse scandals, though his diocese strongly denied any involvement in cover-ups.

Before the conclave began, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said that the cardinals' discussions highlighted the need for a pope with "a prophetic spirit, who can work to spread light in the world without isolating the church."

Analysts suggest that by choosing the name "Leo," Prevost is signaling his intention to establish himself as a symbol of social awareness.

Some conservative cardinals believe that the new pope may be less sympathetic to the LGBTQ+ community than Francis.

Last year, speaking about climate change, Prevost said, "It's time for action, not words. Authority over nature should not become oppression." He also commented on the need to build a healthy relationship between humans and the environment.