Pope Leo XIV greeted the general public for the primary time from the principle balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Photos
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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Photos
About 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide may have a brand new non secular chief: Pope Leo XIV.
The election of Robert Frances Prevost, who selected the title Leo XIV, because the 267th chief of the Roman Catholic Church marks two historic firsts.. Leo is be the first-ever U.S.-born pope to steer 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, reach your families and all people, wherever they are.” Throughout his tackle, 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.
Leo is thought to share among the similar priorities as Francis, notably in the case of the atmosphere and outreach to migrants and the poor, in accordance with The School of Cardinals Report, a useful resource created by a group of Vatican journalists.
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 training on the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Though the brand new pontiff is American, one of the vital vital chapters of his ministry came about in Peru. Prevost served there for roughly 20 years. Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014 and he grew to become a cardinal final yr.
