For the primary time in its historical past, the Catholic Church will be led by an American-born Pope. The Faculty of Cardinals elected on Thursday because the Church’s new chief 69-year-old American Robert Prevost, who took the identify of Pope Leo XIV and informed the cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Sq. he’s “at all times looking for peace and justice, looking for to work with women and men who’re trustworthy to Jesus Christ with out concern to proclaim the gospel.”
Leo was elected on the third poll and is taken into account a consensus candidate.
“God loves us. God loves everybody,” he mentioned by means of a translator. “Evil is not going to prevail. We’re all within the fingers of God. Subsequently, with out concern, united hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves, allow us to go ahead. We’re the disciples of Christ. Christ goes earlier than us. The world wants His gentle.”
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Leo was born in Chicago in 1955 and earned a level in arithmetic at Villanova College in Pennsylvania earlier than becoming a member of the Order of St. Augustine after which receiving his grasp of divinity diploma from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He earned a doctorate in canon regulation from the Pontifical College of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He served as a missionary in Peru and finally was named bishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and made him a cardinal, entrusting him with some of the influential positions within the Vatican.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who died April 21.
Though a consensus candidate, Pope Leo XIV has voiced assist for the Church’s teachings on hot-button social points. In 2012, for instance, he lamented that well-liked tradition has fostered “sympathy for beliefs and practices which are at odds with the gospel,” in response to The New York Instances. He pointed to the “gay life-style” and “different households comprised of same-sex companions and their adopted kids” as examples. In Peru, he opposed a proposal to show kids about transgenderism, saying, “The promotion of gender ideology is complicated, as a result of it seeks to create genders that do not exist.”
On the problem of the poor, specialists say Leo is near Francis’ place. Final yr, Leo mentioned church leaders are “known as authentically to be humble, to be near the individuals he serves, to stroll with them, to undergo with them.”
The U.S. group College students for Life applauded Leo’s election, saying he “has persistently opposed abortion, calling it ‘a type of homicide’ and affirming the Church’s educating that Life begins at conception.”
BREAKING! HABEMUS PAPAM! Cardinal Robert Prevost has been chosen because the 267th Roman Pontiff taking the identify Pope Leo XIV. That is his first look to the town of Rome and the World from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.#catholicchurch #newpope #habemuspapam #popeleoxiv pic.twitter.com/kwVseMES7C
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) Could 8, 2025
Let’s Focus on Pope Leo XIV!
Pope Leo XIV is thought for his conservative theological stance paired with a powerful voice on ethical readability in public life. Whereas some see this as a hopeful return to custom, others are questioning how his American roots and worldview could affect the Church’s world priorities. What does this election imply for the Catholic Church’s path? Do you assume Pope Leo XIV’s nationality will affect his management—or is the Church already larger than borders? Need to share your ideas? Crosswalk Boards is a secure area group the place you’ll be able to touch upon present occasions and different faith-based sizzling subjects –> Share your ideas right this moment!
Picture Credit score: ©Getty Photographs/ALBERTO PIZZOLI/Contributor
Michael Foust has lined the intersection of religion and information for 20 years. His tales have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Right now, The Christian Put up, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville Information-Sentinel.
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Initially printed Could 08, 2025.
