Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner had an audience on Wednesday with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, himself a keen tennis player, the Vatican said.
Sinner was invited to the Vatican along with his parents and a delegation from the Italian Tennis Federation.
Leo joked earlier this week that he didn’t want to meet the world number one, at least not behind the net.
Asked by a journalist if he would take part in a charity match, Leo appeared up for it, but cautioned: “Just don’t bring Sinner,” making a Catholic pun about the last name of the tennis star.
Sinner presented the pope with one of his tennis rackets, but the pontiff declined a suggestion that they knock a ball around, staring up at the lights in the reception room. “Better not,” he said, to laughter.
The pope, formerly known as US Cardinal Robert Prevost, described himself in a 2023 interview published, opens new tab by the website of his Augustinian religious order as “quite the amateur tennis player”.
Sinner is taking part in the Italian Open tennis tournament, which is being staged a short distance from the Vatican, coming back from a three-month doping ban.
He blushed when asked during a news conference on Monday about the pope’s comments and buried his head in his hands.
“Why do you have to put me in a difficult spot?” he said, before adding: “Obviously I heard that he played as a kid. I think it’s a good thing for us tennis players to have a pope who likes this sport that we’re playing.”
Pope Leo XIV, whose name is Robert Prevost, Stepped onto the perch of the Catholic Church last week in a breathtaking moment. Stepped onto the perch
His choice as the first American tells me he was a counterfoil to Trump, and American cleric as “provost” of peace and unity, to help save the world from an American perdition.
It overstates it to think the Pope can do it alone, but it shows how the church can do good by its appeal to the righteous regions of our souls.
This new Pope visited Nigeria as part of his evangelical work as an Augustinian.
The Augustinian hails from the theological philosophy of Saint Augustine, that loved to dissect the word and pay homage to the poor and help the sinner.
The new Pope follows Leo XIII because he united the people and helped the poor. Which is what is lacking in the Nigerian church today when pastors, especially of the Pentecostal type, who elevate material splendor over the life of the spirit.
It reminds me of a cleric who said it is better to die a rich man than a poor man. Another, one pastor Ibiyeomie, said Jesus hates the poor, and he hated them so much in his earthly ministry that he did not visit the poor at home. Well, the real poor don’t have homes.
He himself said, the birds have a home, but the son of man had no place to rest his head. If he hated the poor why did he live in poverty when he was on earth, so much so he cursed a tree for lacking a fruit.
He did not visit the poor in the house? Do you have to visit the poor in their home to empathise? Did he not dine with the publicans, who were regarded as poor?
When the Bible says he was poor so we might be rich, he was speaking of being rich in spirit according to James 2:5. To be rich is good. But to be poor is no sin.
Some of these pastors encourage terrorism, kidnapping and fraud in this society by talking down the poor in church. it turns meek worshippers into conniving villains.
Jesus himself was with poor people when he changed a few loaves of bread and fishes to feed a multitude. Were they rich? Jesus warned how hard it is for rich men to enter his kingdom. E.T Okere muses on this in his book, Church, Money and Power.
By materialising scripture, they have defrocked the word of its power and glory, and made it a secular gambit.
After all God said in the book of Samuel that He made the rich and poor, and in proverbs that the rich and poor should meet together because God made them all. (Proverbs 22:2).
Is the parable of the Rich man not to condemn insentivity to the poor. It is not enough to live with the poor, but to care.
That was the kernel of Pope XIV’s message, and our overabundant clerics will do well to learn.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration will take place on May 18, 2025, with a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Before the ceremony, the Pope will meet with senior cardinals, the international press and the diplomatic corps.
In a statement, the Holy See outlined that existing Vatican officials will continue in their roles until further notice, as Pope Leo XIV has requested time for reflection, prayer, and consultation before making key appointments.
The Pope’s inauguration marks the beginning of his papacy, with world leaders expected to attend the ceremony.
The statement partly reads: “The Holy See Press Office announced the upcoming schedule for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. His inaugural Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18 at 10am Rome time.
“In another statement, the Press Office shared the Holy Father’s ‘wish that the Heads and Members of the Institutions of the Roman Curia, as well as the Secretaries and the President of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State, continue, on a provisional basis’ in their respective roles donec aliter provideatur (until otherwise provided).
“Pope Leo XIV, however, maintains the right to ‘a certain amount of time for reflection, prayer, and dialogue’ before making any ‘definitive appointments or confirmations’.”
…Says Catholic faithful in Imo share vision of integrity with Pope
The Chairman of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi yesterday said the choice of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Pope inspires billions all over the world.
He said the Pope’s vision is anchored on justice, inclusiveness, humility, dialogue, and a preferential option for the poor.
He said the Pope’s leadership qualities deeply resonate with the aspirations he holds for Imo State.
Amadi, who made his position known in a statement in Abuja, said those marginalised in the world have hope under the new Pope.
He said: “With a heart full of joy, I extend my warmest congratulations to you on the historic election of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.
“This is a moment of deep spiritual significance – a time of renewal, hope, and recommitment to the timeless values that anchor the Church and inspire billions across the globe.
“Pope Leo XIV’s ascension to the papacy is not only a triumph of faith but a clarion call to all of us in leadership and public service. His vision, anchored in justice, inclusiveness, humility, dialogue, and a preferential option for the poor, deeply resonates with the aspirations I hold for Imo State.
“The Pope’s commitment to bridging divides, uplifting the marginalised, and promoting peace mirrors my own conviction that leadership must be measured not by words but by transformative action – action that improves lives, strengthens communities, and advances the common good.
“In Imo State, where the Catholic faithful have long been pillars of moral guidance, community service, and social development, I recognise your invaluable role in shaping a society rooted in compassion, integrity, and progress.
“I am particularly inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s example of servant leadership – a leadership that listens, unites, and delivers.
“May this new chapter in the life of the Catholic Church ignite in all of us, regardless of faith, a renewed dedication to justice, reconciliation, and the pursuit of a society where every individual can thrive.”
“Congratulations once again to the Catholic Church and to the faithfuls in Imo State. Together, may we build a future worthy of our highest ideals.”
• Says church must fight ‘lack of faith’ in first mass
• Why new Vatican head visited Nigeria in 2016
When Robert Prevost was in the first grade, his neighbour told him he would be the first American pope, his brother told ABC News.
On Thursday, that prophecy came true when Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal, was elected to be the 267th pontiff — and the first from the United States.
Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Prevost grew up the youngest of three brothers in the South Chicago suburb of Dolton.
He always wanted to be a priest, his older brother, John Prevost, told ABC News outside his home in Illinois on Thursday.
“He knew right away. I don’t think he’s ever questioned it. I don’t think he’s ever thought of anything else,” John Prevost said.
As a child, Pope Leo XIV “played priest,” John Prevost said. “The ironing board was the altar.”
The pope is a White Sox fan, his brother confirmed. “He’s a regular, run-of-the-mill person,” he said.
Leo started to emerge as a front-runner for the papacy in the days before the conclave began, according to the Rev. James Martin, a papal contributor to ABC News.
John Prevost said he spoke to his brother on Tuesday, before the cardinals went into the secretive conclave, and told his younger brother that he also believed he could be the first American pope.
At the time, his younger brother called it “nonsense” and “just talk,” saying, “‘They’re not going to pick an American pope,” John Prevost said.
“He just didn’t believe it, or didn’t want to believe it,” John Prevost said.
John Prevost said he expects his brother will follow in the late Pope Francis’ footsteps as a voice for the disenfranchised and poor.
“I think they were two of a kind,” John Prevost said. “I think because they both were in South America at the same time — in Peru and in Argentina — they had the same experiences in working with missions and working with the downtrodden. So I think that’s the experience that they’re both coming from.”
Louis Prevost, the eldest of the three Prevost brothers, was feeling under the weather and lying in bed at his home in Florida when the big moment came.
“My wife called to tell me there’s white smoke from the chapel,” he said.
Louis Prevost said he tuned in to the live broadcast of the Vatican announcement.
“They started reading his name, and when he went, ‘blah, blah, blah, Roberto,’ immediately I knew — that’s Rob,” he said. “I was just thankful I was still in bed lying down, because I might have fallen down.”
Louis Prevost said he got out of bed and started “dancing around like an idiot.”
“It’s just incredible,” he said. “I’m suddenly wide awake and feeling wonderful.”
Louis Prevost said his brother seemed to always know his calling, and that as young as four or five, the family knew he was destined for great things in the Catholic Church. When his brothers were playing cops and robbers, Leo would “play priest” and distribute Holy Communion with Necco wafers, Louis Prevost said.
“We used to tease him all the time — you’re going to be the pope one day,” he said. “Neighbors said the same thing. Sixty-some years later, here we are.”
In first mass as Pope, Leo XIV says church must fight ‘lack of faith’
Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to “desperately” counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world became the first US head of the 2,000-year institution.
Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the 267th pope, spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and successor to Argentina’s Pope Francis, after a secret conclave by his fellow cardinals in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
In today’s world, Leo warned in his homily to assembled cardinals, there are places or situations where “it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied”.
“Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed,” said the new pope, 69, standing at the Sistine Chapel altar with Michelangelo’s famed fresco of “The Last Judgment” behind him.
The former missionary deplored “settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent” and, in an echo of his predecessor Francis, said people were turning to “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.”
“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” said Leo in Italian, wearing a white papal robe trimmed in gold as he addressed the seated white-robed cardinals.
In an apparent message to evangelical Christians, Pope Leo also warned that Jesus cannot be “reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman”.
“This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptised Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,” he said.
In an unscripted introduction to his homily in English, he also evoked a need to overcome divisions within the Church, telling his fellow cardinals: “I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me”.
Many around the world were still digesting the choice of the man sometimes referred to in Rome as the “Latin Yankee” for his decades-long missions in Peru.
“A pope from the United States is almost more surprising than an Argentine and Jesuit pope,” such as Francis, wrote the Corriere della Sera daily. Francis was the first pope ever named from the Americas.
Pope Leo XIV to be inaugurated May 18
The Vatican yesterday announced that Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration will take place on May 18 with a mass in St. Peter’s Square, following his election to succeed Pope Francis.
The ceremony is to take place at 10a.m (0800 GMT) May 18 at the Vatican.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the first U.S. pontiff on Thursday after white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel following four rounds of voting in the papal conclave.
The new pope is set to keep Francis’ top employees in the Vatican in place for the time being, the Holy See said.
The first of his weekly general audiences is planned for May 21.
Otedola congratulates Pope Leo, shares photo of his visit to Nigeria
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has congratulated the newly elected Pope, Leo XIV, formerly Robert Cardinal Prevost, on his historic emergence as the 267th pontiff.
Otedola, who serves as the chancellor of Augustine University, took to Instagram yesterday to share a photograph of the pontiff – at the time the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru – during his 2016 visit to the Augustinian community in Abuja, Nigeria.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Governing Council, and Management of Augustine University Ilara, Epe, Lagos State, I, Femi Otedola CON, Chancellor, proudly congratulate our new Pope, Leo XIV @Pontifex, a devoted Augustinian Priest from whom our University draws its name and heritage,” he stated.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Governing Council, and Management of Augustine University Ilara, Epe, Lagos State, I, Femi Otedola CON, Chancellor, proudly congratulate our new Pope, Leo XIV @Pontifex, a devoted Augustinian Priest from whom our University draws its name.”
CAN hails election of Pope Leo XIV
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday congratulated the Roman Catholic Church on the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, describing it as a moment of renewal and hope for the global Christian community.
A statement issued in Abuja and signed by the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the emergence of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant milestone in the life of the Church and is a source of great joy for Catholics worldwide.
Okoh said: “On behalf of the national leadership of CAN and the entire Christian community in Nigeria, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Roman Catholic Church. We share in the joy of this historic moment.”
He expressed confidence that the new Pontiff will lead with wisdom and compassion, fostering peace, justice and unity across nations.
“We believe Pope Leo XIV will continue the noble legacy of his predecessors and provide spiritual leadership that inspires faith, reconciliation, and inclusiveness,” he added.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, celebrated his inaugural Mass as pontiff in the historic Sistine Chapel, joined by the College of Cardinals who elected him.
The Mass marked a historic milestone for the Church, following his swift and unexpected election during a two-day conclave that concluded Thursday evening with the traditional white smoke rising from the Vatican, signaling the successful selection of a new pope.
Born in Chicago, Cardinal Robert Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—brings a distinct American perspective to the papacy.
His journey to the Vatican was shaped by decades of service as a missionary in Peru, where he immersed himself in the spiritual and social needs of the local communities.
Later, as Bishop of Chiclayo, he gained recognition for his pastoral leadership and commitment to the marginalised, which propelled his rise within the Church hierarchy.
His election as Pope Leo XIV reflects a historic shift, as the cardinals choose a leader from the Americas to guide the global Catholic community through a period of significant challenges.
The Mass in the Sistine Chapel, steeped in centuries of tradition, was a solemn and symbolic beginning to Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
Surrounded by Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, the new pope led the liturgy with the cardinals who, just days prior, had deliberated in the same sacred space to select him as the successor to St. Peter.
The event was both a celebration of unity and a moment of reflection, as the Church looks to its new leader to address pressing issues.
Following the Mass, Pope Leo XIV will share a private lunch with the cardinals, a customary gathering that allows for informal fellowship before the cardinals disperse to their home countries.
This meal marks one of the final moments of togetherness for the group, who collectively bear the responsibility of guiding the Church through its complex modern landscape.
As the cardinals depart, Pope Leo XIV will turn his attention to a host of challenges facing the Catholic Church.
Financially, the Vatican grapples with persistent budget shortfalls, requiring careful stewardship to maintain its global operations and charitable missions.
Internally, the Church faces deep divisions over issues of inclusion, particularly regarding the role of LGBTQ individuals within the faith community.
Debates over the pastoral care of divorced and remarried Catholics continue to spark theological and practical discussions, with many seeking greater openness while others advocate for traditional teachings.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday congratulated the Roman Catholic Church on the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, describing it as a moment of renewal and hope for the global Christian community.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the emergence of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant milestone in the life of the Church and is a source of great joy for Catholics worldwide.
Okoh said, “On behalf of the national leadership of CAN and the entire Christian community in Nigeria, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Roman Catholic Church. We share in the joy of this historic moment.”
He expressed confidence that the new Pontiff will lead with wisdom and compassion, fostering peace, justice, and unity across nations.
“We believe Pope Leo XIV will continue the noble legacy of his predecessors and provide spiritual leadership that inspires faith, reconciliation, and inclusiveness,” he added.
The CAN President also offered prayers for the new Pope, asking God to grant him strength, wisdom, and good health as he takes on the sacred responsibilities of guiding the Church in a world that yearns for healing and moral direction.
“We walk together to build bridges,” declared Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, in his first address as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, moments after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney yesterday. His words, delivered fromzthe balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, signaled a papacy rooted in dialogue and reconciliation, a revolutionary choice that shattered centuries of precedent by electing the first American pope, writes Ntakobong Otongaran
The decision to elect Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Catholic leader, now Pope Leo XIV, made by the 133 cardinal electors in the 2025 conclave, defied longstanding geopolitical taboos against an American pontiff, given the United States’ status as a global superpower.
Prevost’s election as a Chicago-born prelate with deep ties to Peru and a reputation for pastoral humility marks a bold new chapter for the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful.
A revolutionary choice
For centuries, the notion of an American pope was deemed unthinkable. The Vatican’s electors, wary of consolidating spiritual and geopolitical power in a single nation, consistently favored candidates from Europe, Latin America, or, in rare instances, other regions. “You couldn’t have a ‘superpower pope,’” wrote Vatican analyst Marco Politi, citing fears that an American pontiff might be perceived as beholden to U.S. interests.
Yet, in Prevost, the College of Cardinals saw a figure who “transcends borders,” as The New York Times noted, a polyglot with dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship whose career has been defined by service in Latin America and Rome rather than American politics.
His election, announced after just two days of voting, reflects a seismic shift in the church’s global outlook. Prevost’s alignment with Pope Francis’s progressive reforms, particularly his emphasis on synodality—making the Church more inclusive and participatory—resonated with a conclave where non-European cardinals, including 20 from Asia and 18 from Africa, outnumbered their European counterparts for the first time.
His supporters, including high-profile cardinals like Oscar Maradiaga, pitched him as a “dignified middle of the road,” capable of uniting a polarised church while continuing Francis’s legacy of outreach to the marginalised.
The first speech: A call for dialogue
Standing before a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV’s first words set the tone for his papacy. “I thank my predecessor, Pope Francis, whose heart for the poor and vision for a synodal Church have guided us,” he said, his voice steady yet humble. “I thank the College of Cardinals for their trust in choosing me, a simple servant, as the successor to Peter.”
Pausing as the crowd roared, he continued, “In a world divided, we are called to dialogue. We walk together to build bridges—bridges of mercy, justice, and understanding.”
Though the full text of his speech was brief, its core message echoed his lifelong commitment to pastoral closeness. “The Church is not a fortress but a field hospital,” he declared, invoking Francis’s metaphor. “We must meet people where they are, not as princes but as companions in suffering and hope.”
His emphasis on dialogue addressed both global challenges—migration, climate change, and interreligious tensions—and internal Church divisions over issues like women’s roles and blessings for same-sex couples.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago’s south suburbs, Robert Francis Prevost grew up in a devout Catholic family at St. Mary of the Assumption parish, straddling the Chicago-Dolton line.
His mother, Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent, was a librarian known for her culinary hospitality, while his father, Louis, a French-Italian educator, served as a catechist.
Young Robert, an altar boy and parish school student, felt an early call to the priesthood, inspired by the steady stream of clergy who visited his home.
Prevost’s academic journey was rigorous. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982, and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1987, with a thesis on Augustinian leadership. Joining the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, he took solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982 by Archbishop Jean Jadot in Rome.
His early career took him to Peru, where he served as a missionary, parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official from 1985 to 1986 and 1988 to 1998.
In Trujillo, he headed an Augustinian seminary, taught canon law, and led a congregation on the city’s outskirts. His fluency in Spanish and immersion in Peruvian culture earned him citizenship, softening perceptions of his American identity.
In 1998, he returned to the U.S. as provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, and from 2001 to 2013, he served as prior general of the worldwide Augustinian order, a role that honed his global leadership.
Pope Francis appointed Prevost apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, and bishop in 2015. His work with the poor and marginalized mirrored Francis’s priorities, though allegations of mishandling clergy abuse cases in Chiclayo in 2022 and Chicago in 2000 have drawn criticism from survivors’ advocates.
The Diocese of Chiclayo maintained that Prevost followed canonical norms, and some cardinals dismissed the accusations as weaponized by ideological foes. In 2020, he joined the Congregation for Bishops, and in 2023, Francis named him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful role overseeing global bishop appointments.
Elevated to cardinal in 2023 and cardinal-bishop in 2025, Prevost’s Vatican prominence made him a natural papabile.
Pope Leo’s views
Many have said he is similar to Pope Francis in his views.
He has criticised both Donald Trump and JD Vance, and according to CBS News, he is “seen overall as a centrist, on some key social issues he’s viewed as progressive”.
They added: “He has long embraced marginalised groups, a lot like Francis, who championed migrants and the poor.”
The New York Times said he was praised for his efforts to support Venezuelan immigrants during his time in Peru.
A papacy of bridges
Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV—named for the 13th-century Augustinian pope or perhaps Leo XIII, author of Rerum Novarum—signals a Church poised to balance tradition and reform.
His moderate stance, blending doctrinal fidelity with pastoral openness, positions him to address contentious issues like women’s ordination, which he opposes, and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ Catholics, where he has shown cautious support for non-liturgical blessings. His Augustinian spirituality, rooted in community and humility, and his Peruvian experience ground his vision of a Church that “proclaims Jesus Christ” while engaging the world’s complexities. “We walk together to build bridges,” he reiterated, closing his address. “Let us be a Church that listens, that heals, that loves.”
As the first American pope, Leo XIV carries the weight of history and the hope of a fractured world. His papacy, born in a moment of audacious change, promises to redefine the Vatican’s role on the global stage.
“We walk together to build bridges,” declared Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, in his first address as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, moments after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney yesterday. His words, delivered fromzthe balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, signaled a papacy rooted in dialogue and reconciliation, a revolutionary choice that shattered centuries of precedent by electing the first American pope, writes NTAKOBONG OTONGARAN.
The decision to elect Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Catholic leader, now Pope Leo XIV, made by the 133 cardinal electors in the 2025 conclave, defied longstanding geopolitical taboos against an American pontiff, given the United States’ status as a global superpower.
Prevost’s election as a Chicago-born prelate with deep ties to Peru and a reputation for pastoral humility marks a bold new chapter for the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful.
A revolutionary choice
For centuries, the notion of an American pope was deemed unthinkable. The Vatican’s electors, wary of consolidating spiritual and geopolitical power in a single nation, consistently favored candidates from Europe, Latin America, or, in rare instances, other regions. “You couldn’t have a ‘superpower pope,’” wrote Vatican analyst Marco Politi, citing fears that an American pontiff might be perceived as beholden to U.S. interests.
Yet, in Prevost, the College of Cardinals saw a figure who “transcends borders,” as The New York Times noted, a polyglot with dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship whose career has been defined by service in Latin America and Rome rather than American politics.
His election, announced after just two days of voting, reflects a seismic shift in the church’s global outlook. Prevost’s alignment with Pope Francis’s progressive reforms, particularly his emphasis on synodality—making the Church more inclusive and participatory—resonated with a conclave where non-European cardinals, including 20 from Asia and 18 from Africa, outnumbered their European counterparts for the first time.
His supporters, including high-profile cardinals like Oscar Maradiaga, pitched him as a “dignified middle of the road,” capable of uniting a polarised church while continuing Francis’s legacy of outreach to the marginalised.
The first speech: A call for dialogue
Standing before a cheering crowd in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV’s first words set the tone for his papacy. “I thank my predecessor, Pope Francis, whose heart for the poor and vision for a synodal Church have guided us,” he said, his voice steady yet humble. “I thank the College of Cardinals for their trust in choosing me, a simple servant, as the successor to Peter.”
Pausing as the crowd roared, he continued, “In a world divided, we are called to dialogue. We walk together to build bridges—bridges of mercy, justice, and understanding.”
Though the full text of his speech was brief, its core message echoed his lifelong commitment to pastoral closeness. “The Church is not a fortress but a field hospital,” he declared, invoking Francis’s metaphor. “We must meet people where they are, not as princes but as companions in suffering and hope.”
His emphasis on dialogue addressed both global challenges—migration, climate change, and interreligious tensions—and internal Church divisions over issues like women’s roles and blessings for same-sex couples.
A rich biography: From Chicago to the Vatican
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago’s south suburbs, Robert Francis Prevost grew up in a devout Catholic family at St. Mary of the Assumption parish, straddling the Chicago-Dolton line.
His mother, Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent, was a librarian known for her culinary hospitality, while his father, Louis, a French-Italian educator, served as a catechist.
Young Robert, an altar boy and parish school student, felt an early call to the priesthood, inspired by the steady stream of clergy who visited his home.
Prevost’s academic journey was rigorous. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982, and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1987, with a thesis on Augustinian leadership. Joining the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, he took solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982 by Archbishop Jean Jadot in Rome.
His early career took him to Peru, where he served as a missionary, parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official from 1985 to 1986 and 1988 to 1998.
In Trujillo, he headed an Augustinian seminary, taught canon law, and led a congregation on the city’s outskirts. His fluency in Spanish and immersion in Peruvian culture earned him citizenship, softening perceptions of his American identity.
In 1998, he returned to the U.S. as provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago, and from 2001 to 2013, he served as prior general of the worldwide Augustinian order, a role that honed his global leadership.
Pope Francis appointed Prevost apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, and bishop in 2015. His work with the poor and marginalized mirrored Francis’s priorities, though allegations of mishandling clergy abuse cases in Chiclayo in 2022 and Chicago in 2000 have drawn criticism from survivors’ advocates.
The Diocese of Chiclayo maintained that Prevost followed canonical norms, and some cardinals dismissed the accusations as weaponized by ideological foes. In 2020, he joined the Congregation for Bishops, and in 2023, Francis named him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful role overseeing global bishop appointments.
Elevated to cardinal in 2023 and cardinal-bishop in 2025, Prevost’s Vatican prominence made him a natural papabile.
Pope Leo’s views
Many have said he is similar to Pope Francis in his views.
He has criticised both Donald Trump and JD Vance, and according to CBS News, he is “seen overall as a centrist, on some key social issues he’s viewed as progressive”.
They added: “He has long embraced marginalised groups, a lot like Francis, who championed migrants and the poor.”
The New York Times said he was praised for his efforts to support Venezuelan immigrants during his time in Peru.
A papacy of bridges
Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV—named for the 13th-century Augustinian pope or perhaps Leo XIII, author of Rerum Novarum—signals a Church poised to balance tradition and reform.
His moderate stance, blending doctrinal fidelity with pastoral openness, positions him to address contentious issues like women’s ordination, which he opposes, and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ Catholics, where he has shown cautious support for non-liturgical blessings. His Augustinian spirituality, rooted in community and humility, and his Peruvian experience ground his vision of a Church that “proclaims Jesus Christ” while engaging the world’s complexities. “We walk together to build bridges,” he reiterated, closing his address. “Let us be a Church that listens, that heals, that loves.”
As the first American pope, Leo XIV carries the weight of history and the hope of a fractured world. His papacy, born in a moment of audacious change, promises to redefine the Vatican’s role on the global stage.
World leaders yesterday greeted Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pontiff.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, United States President Donald Trump and others expressed hope that the Pope’s tenure will usher in peace in the world.
On Day 2 inside the Sistine Chapel and during the second round of voting the 133 cardinal electors settled for the 69-year-old American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who picked the tittle Leo XIV.
President Tinubu described his ascension as a beacon of reassurance drawn from scripture, he expressed confidence that the new Pope would inspire a more peaceful and united world.
The President also reflected on the long-standing and fruitful relationship between Nigeria and the Holy See, highlighting the Catholic Church’s vital role in peace building, education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, and, in recent times, the promotion of technology as a tool for human advancement.
President Tinubu noted that the election of Pope Leo XIV “opens a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and the values of love, humanity and charity, particularly to the underprivileged, that it has consistently projected.”
United States President Donald Trump saying he “look forward to meeting” Pope Leo in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump wrote: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Also, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Pope Leo’s appointment with a plea for continued support from the Vatican.
In a post on X Zelensky wrote: ‘Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate.
“Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said: “I hope he becomes a great leader for migrant peoples around the world, and I hope he encourages our Latin American migrant brothers and sisters, humiliated today in the United States. It’s time for them to organize.”
Also, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose country had a frosty relationship with late pope Francis, noted: “We look forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world. May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us.”
“Through your role, you provide hope and guidance to millions of believers around the world in these challenging times,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “May his pontificate contributes to strengthening dialogue and the defence of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity.”
Poland gave assurance of the readiness of the Republic of Poland to further strengthen the unique bonds between the Vatican and the country – “in the name of shared values, responsibility for the common good and the strengthening of peace in the world, said Polish President Andrzej Duda, a conservative Catholic.
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen asserted: “We wish that his pontificate be guided by wisdom and strength, as he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world through his commitment to peace and dialogue.”
How he was elected
Pope Leo’s appointment was revealed just after 5pm yesterday when white smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel, confirming the news to the world.
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Francis, who died on Easter Monday.
The conclave that elected him was one of the shortest in recent history, ending after just two days and requiring a two-thirds majority from 133 cardinal electors.
The announcement was made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Cardinal Dominique Mamberti declared “Habemus Papam” to the cheering crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Chants of ‘Leon, Leon’ ran through the crowds who had gathered in St Peter’s Square, with some appearing to be shocked, mouthing “An American?”
The new leader
Born in 1955, Cardinal Prevost has lived in Peru for a number of years and was made an archbishop in the South American country.
He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
He speaks a number of languages and is considered similar to Pope Francis in viewpoints, and was chosen by Pope Francis to replace Marc Ouellet as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops two years ago.
Pope Francis sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, a position he held until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role.
Cardinal Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics.
The previous Pope Leo XIII was pope from 1878 to his death in 1903.
The new papal name Pope Leo “unsurprisingly shows a Pope who is going to be strong during a time of crisis, historically, Catholic priest and blogger Ed Tomlinson told The Independent.
Pope’s first statement
In his first words, Pope Leo said ‘Peace be with you’, offering a message of peace and dialogue “without fear” The pontiff recalled he was an Augustinian priest, but that he was above all, a Christian above all and a bishop, ‘So we can all walk together.’
He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
From a contender to an elected leader
Cardinal Prevost’s emerged in recent days as a contender, which was a surprise as normally cardinals steer away from those that come from a “superpower”.
The tennis loving cardinal – who is also known as Father Bob – is seen as the “least American of the Americans” and is seen as a silent reformer who would carry on the work of Pope Francis.
He was a popular choice with the Latin American and North American cardinals, although he has kept his views on topics such as women clergy and same sex unions noticeably quiet.
Chants of ‘Abbiamo Papa, ole, ole, ole’ and ‘Viva il Papa’ could be heard from the thousands that had rushed towards the square and the flags of dozens of countries were being waved in front of stunningly sunlit St Peter’s Basilica.
Older cardinals who didn’t participate in the conclave rushed out to the square and lined up as military bands played the Italian and Holy See national anthems.
A marching brass band in blue uniforms led a contingent of Swiss guards through the crowd to a central spot below the balcony, generating another huge roar from the crowd.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is the official security force of the Vatican, and holds a ceremonial and a protective function.
Hailing from 70 different countries, the 133-strong group of cardinals gathered in the Vatican for the centuries-old ritual to elect the 267th pontiff following the death of Pope Francis last month.
