In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope in history, has begun his tenure with a call to action, acknowledging both the weight of responsibility and the blessings of his election. As he delves into his new role, he is poised to build upon the legacy of Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV Calls His Election Both A Cross And A Blessing
There is no historical record of a Pope named Leo XIV.
The Catholic Church's list of popes, known as the Annuario Pontificio, only recognizes two popes with the name Leo: Leo I (r. 440-461) and Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903).
It is possible that a non-canonical or fictional Pope Leo XIV may have existed in certain contexts, but no credible sources confirm this.
The lack of information on Pope Leo XIV suggests that he may be an invention or a misunderstanding.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He studied chemistry and philosophy before becoming a priest in 1969.
Francis served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 and was elected Pope in 2013.
He is the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope from the Americas.
Known for his humility and commitment to social justice, Francis has implemented various reforms within the Catholic Church.
He has also been a vocal advocate for environmental protection and immigration reform.
As Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass as the head of the Catholic Church, he spoke off-the-cuff in English to the cardinals who elected him, acknowledging the great responsibility they had placed on him and expressing gratitude for their support. The Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost was elected Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional taboo against a pope from the United States due to the secular power the country wields.
In his first homily, ‘reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman’ , Leo XIV lamented that the Christian faith in many parts of the world is considered absurd, mocked or opposed in the face of temptations such as money, success and power. He complained that Jesus is often misunderstood, ‘reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.’ This sentiment reflects Leo XIV‘s intention to continue Pope Francis‘ focus on expanding women’s role in the church.
Pope Francis Had His Eye On The New Pope
The first Latin American pope, Francis, clearly had his eye on Prevost and saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014. Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world.
A Mass That May Suggest His Priorities
Two women delivered the readings of Scripture at the start of Leo’s first Mass, perhaps an indication of his intention to continue Francis‘ focus on expanding women’s role in the church. As a cardinal, Prevost put into practice one of Francis‘ most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the Vaticab board that vets bishop nominations.
The Previous Leo
The previous Leo also had close ties to the Augustinian order: He rebuilt an ancient Augustinian church and convent near his hometown of Carpineto, outside Rome, that is still in use by the order today. Vatican watchers said Prevost’s decision to name himself Leo was particularly significant given the Leo XIII‘s legacy of social justice and reform, suggesting continuity with some of Francis‘ chief concerns.
Looking Ahead
In his first hours as pope, Leo went back to his old apartment in the Sant’Uffizio Palace to see colleagues. Vatican Media also showed him in the moments after his election praying in the Pauline Chapel before emerging on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet Rome and the world. On Sunday, he is set to deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia and attend an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium.
- huffpost.com | Pope Leo XIV Calls His Election Both A Cross And A Blessing
