Pope Leo XIV.Photo: IPA / SplashNews.com
The new Pope, Leon XIV, led his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday. He succeeds Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88. The election took place after a two-day conclave that ended with white smoke over the Vatican.
Leon XIV is a secular personality with spiritual depth. In civilian life, he is known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born dual citizen (US and Peru), long-time missionary and bishop in northern Peru. His support for Pope Francis’ policies and his humble style of work contributed to his election to the throne of St Peter.
US President Donald Trump greeted Pope Leon as “a great pride for America”. However, the new Pope himself spoke mostly in Italian and Spanish in his address to the faithful, without mentioning English.
In Peru, where Prevost served for years, the news was greeted with church bells ringing and mass celebrations. “This is our pope,” said the people of Chiclayo.
The choice of name is also significant. The last Pope, Leon XIII, was known for his fight for social justice in the late 19th century. This may indicate the new pontiff’s intention to intensify the social aspects of the Church’s mission, including equality, LGBT, the role of women, and financial transparency in the Vatican.
