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An American Pope
Pope Leo XIV’s first appearance in St. Peter Square. Wikimedia Commons
After first convening in the Sistine Chapel at 10 am CET on May 7th, the 133 cardinals eligible to vote in the papal conclave have achieved the two-thirds majority necessary to elect the 267th pope: Robert Francis Prevost, 69, of Chicago, henceforth known as Pope Leo XIV.
“Peace be with you all. I want to offer a blessing of peace that will reach your families, all of you, wherever you are,” Pope Leo began his speech from the Basilica’s central balcony. He spoke of the need for unity and to build bridges.
In the brief address, he spoke Italian before switching to Spanish to address the diocese he’d served for years in Peru. He called for a missionary church, a synodal church; one that builds bridges and shows charity always, especially to those who are suffering.
After recognizing the blessings still bestowed by his predecessor, Pope Leo called for the church to go forward “without fear,” with God and among ourselves, into a world that needs Christ’s light.
“With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a Bishop. So may we all walk together to the place God has prepared for us.”
Published in General
Lots of Leos to choose from as his model.
Probably a schism in the making: is he a Cubs or White Sox fan?
Did he vote for Obama in 2012?
He’s from Chicago … probably several times.
First I thought of was Leo X. There was also Leo XI of the 27 days.
Chicago? First dangerous pope in along time?
He has spent his last many years in Peru so North and South America covered.
He puts one of your guys in schism, you excommunicate one os his guys.
So, since his politics are getting some scrutiny, I have seen reports that he is a registered Republican. Can anyone confirm that?
In other news: Students for Life- America- is pleased with him as the new Pope. So is Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau.
First thoughts:
1. Pray for Pope Leo XIV
2. Happy to see the traditional vestments and a traditional name.
3. Pray for Pope Leo XIV
Some good background information:
https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/robert-francis-prevost/
I saw that National Right to Life has also come out praising his election, while Catholics for Choice attacked him. That makes my day. Wrote the Pentacostal married to a Catholic.
May end up being worse than Francis. From Lifesite News:
Very little seems to be known about him. He was not even a Cardinal for very long. (Eighteen months? Twenty four?)
I have heard that he is devoted to Saint Augustine. (The saint, not our excellent fellow member.)
But I also have heard he is supportive of the pro-immigrant, open border situation. Whether this is true or not, I do not know.
I heard on Clay and Buck that Illinois doesn’t register by party but he has voted in Republican primaries but it’s beginning to look like he’s a Romney -ish one., if at all , anti Trump/Vance.
Someone just said on the news “he’s been described as the least American of the Americans.”
That’s the Chicago Way!
As a Catholic I could not care less where he stands on the American political divide. I pray that he is holy, orthodox, wise, and courageous. To try to frame his pontificate on where he resides on the Republican political scale is ridiculous.
Well, when you look at the other American cardinals: Cupich, Tobin, McElroy, Wuerl, Gregory, I’ll take my chances with Prevost.
I don’t care where he is on tariffs or taxes etc, but he is against us having the right to defend our borders from invasion.
I heard someone on the radio say that the new pope believes it is the responsibility of the U. S. to be the refuge for every poor person on Earth who can get here. I’ve never understood the fools who don’t realize that if you bring enough of there here, you turn here into there. And then where is the refuge for anyone? It’s almost as though they believe that if not everyone is rich we should all be poor instead of having pockets of wealth. Maybe they assume the Vatican will remain untouched. Anyway, there is no reason at all to listen to him on immigration issues . . . or taxes, or the Constitution, or . . .
I have yet to hear his papal declaration that we do not have the right to defend our borders from invasion. The pope is Catholic so I presume he believes what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
CCC 22411 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
There is reason to listen to the pope on a whole host of issues – but of the ones you list in your last sentence, these are all prudential judgment issues and we as Catholics have no obligation to agree with him on issues such as this.
Oh – and you hear a lot of crazy stuff on the radio and internet.
Re: McElroy Birds of a feather perhaps? There are some reports of his failing to even investigate accusations of predatory behavior on the part of a priest in his diocese in Peru. I have no details other than that. Could be all BS. But who knows? My high school principal/priest who married the lovely Mrs E and I was eventually revealed as guilty of being … ummm, what’s the current euphamism … ‘minor attracted’.
In his initial appearance he spoke Latin, Italian and Spanish. I was expecting something in English … maybe a “God Bless America” or some such. Nope.
I find it interesting that we have already determined what to expect from the new Pope Leo XIV. I heard “someone say on the radio”. Who is someone?
No one has been marched off to Mass at gunpoint, a political act. Catholics have more to fear from the State to include the US government than non-Catholics have to fear from the Catholic Church.
From Catholic Vote:
What was the answer from the FBI? It was 3 FBI offices conducting an investigation to determine if Catholics who attend a Latin Mass might be domestic terrorists.
“A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who favors a policy promoting an intrinsically evil act, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, deliberately subjecting workers or the poor to subhuman living conditions, redefining marriage in ways that violate its essential meaning, or racist behavior, if the voter’s intent is to support that position.”
That is all that matters for faithful Catholics when it comes to political acts.
It was during the Clay & Buck broadcast, but the broadcast had faded into background noise when they were discussing the new pope. I have no idea if it was one of them or someone else. It is not important to me because as Scott said above, we are under no obligation to listen to him on immigration and a host of other issues.
He’s wasn’t really an American cardinal. As a Catholic bishop, he’s really a Peruvian. He wouldn’t have been a part of the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
His time in the states after his ordination as priest was relatively brief. He was elected Provincial Prior of Chicago of the Augustine order, but two years later he was elected as the international head of the Augustine order for two 6 year terms. Their headquarters is in Rome.
His time in Chicago was, what looks like administrative and governing positions, within that Augustine order’s province. Most of his pastoral work seems to have been in Peru.
As a cleric, he’s never done nuts and bolts work in an American diocese. It’s Peru all the way down.
Calling him an American Pope seems to be a stretch. When I first heard an American was elected Pope, I was surprised. Now it makes more sense.
One other thing, He’s the second pope in a row to come from a religious order, versus ordination as a diocesan priest. I did a quick check, and popes from Pius XII to Benedict XVI were ordained as diocesan priests.
An interesting trend.
Weren’t Erasmus and Luther Augustinians?
As you would expect, the Babylon Bee wasted no time:
https://babylonbee.com/news/eagle-firing-ar-15-emerges-from-vatican-indicating-an-american-pope-has-ben-selected