Newly elected Pope Leo XIV,Robert Prevost,addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica for the first time (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Robert Francis Prevost has been named as the first American to serve as the Pope.
He has been elected as Pope Leo XIV and emerged onto the balcony to an eruption of applause while people could be heard chanting his name.
Speaking in Italian and then Spanish,he said Pope Francis was always ‘courageous and blessed Rome’.
But who is Robert Francis Prevost? Metro takes a look below.
The new Pope was born in Chicago and was made cardinal by Francis in 2023.
He spent many years as a missionary in Peru and is reportedly close to Francis’s vision regarding the environment,outreach to the poor and migrants.
Robert Francis Prevost,was seen as the ‘compromise candidate’ for the papacy (Picture: AP)
He said in 2024: ‘The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom.’
He supported Pope Francis on allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
In other areas he appears more conservative,only showing mild support for Francis allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.
Despite this,he was known as the ‘compromise candidate’ for the papacy.
Pope Leo XIV has just delivered his speech to the tens of thousands of people listening to him in St Peter’s Square.
A ceremonial mass to install the new Pope is expected to take place around one week from now.
Around 150,000 people have gathered in St Peter’s Square (Picture: Reuters)
This will happen in either St Peter’s Square or basilica,with cardinals,bishops and other international dignitaries present.
These days,there is less pomp and pageantry than before,for example,Pope Paul VI was the last to wear the triregnum,during his installation in 1963.
His first act has been choosing his name – Pope Leo XIV.
This is to signify that him becoming Pope is akin to a second birth.
Going forward,his responsibilities will include choosing his residence,addressing broader issues within the Church itself.
This includes declining Church attendance and the ongoing battle with the sex abuse crisis gripping the institution.
President Donald Trump has offered up his congratulations (Picture: EPA)
World leaders have started coming out to congratulate Robert Francis Prevost on becoming the new Pope including President Donald Trump.
He wrote on his Truth social platform: ‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,who was just named Pope.
‘It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement,and what a Great Honor for our Country.
‘I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’
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