Leo XIV is the new pope: "Peace, dialogue, and building bridges"

RomeIt was just a few minutes after six in the evening when, through the chimney placed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, a few meters from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, white smoke rose into the Vatican sky. Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced the expected "Habemus papam!" And just a few minutes later, the curtains of the window on the facade of St. Peter's Basilica opened completely to reveal the identity of the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church: Robert Francis Prevost, the first American to sit on the chair of St. Peter, who will govern under the name of Leo XIV. A name that appeals to the social doctrine of the Church promoted by the Roman pontiff Leo XIII.

A Sant Pere Square filled to the brim since early afternoon erupted in applause at the confirmation that the 133 cardinals closed since the day before in the most universal and uncertain conclave in living memory They had managed to elect Francis's successor on the fourth ballot. It was a brief conclave, despite less optimistic forecasts. The bells of all Rome's churches began to ring, while a large police presence quickly cut off access to the area around St. Peter's Square. The music of the Vatican Gendarmerie band also broke out with one of its marches, followed by the Swiss Guard, who formed an honor guard to welcome the new pope.

"Peace be with you all, dear brothers and sisters," he said in perfect Italian but with a pronounced American accent. Pope Leo XIV's first words were for the late Francis, who on Easter Sunday, the day before his death, stood out on that same balcony for the last time to impart his blessing. urbi et orbi"We still retain the always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome," he recalled, to applause from the crowd.

Reformist and progressive

Considered a reformer and progressive, Leo XIV shares Jorge Mario Bergoglio's vision of welcoming migrants and championing peace. "A peace that disarms, humble, and persevering," he said, perhaps giving some clues as to what his newly begun pontificate will be like, one in which one of his first challenges will be precisely to recover the Holy See's diplomatic influence in a turbulent world. Leo XIV then called for "building bridges through dialogue, through encounter" and for us to "all become one people, always at peace."

In a longer than usual speech, and unable to hide his emotion, the new head of the Catholic Church read He also wanted to thank the cardinals for having elected him and urged them to walk "together always seeking peace and justice.", launching a message of unity at a time when the Catholic Church is experiencing serious tensions. "We must seek to be a missionary Church, one that builds bridges and dialogue. Always open to all who need our charity, our presence. A synodal Church, a Church that journeys, that always seeks peace. That always seeks to be close, especially to those who suffer so much," he said.

Born in Chicago 69 years ago to a mother of Spanish descent, Robert Francis Prevost spent nearly 30 years in Peru before joining the curia in 2023 as prefect of the influential Congregation for Bishops, the body charged with advising the pope on the appointment of prevosts. A year later, Francis made him a cardinal.

He arrived in the Latin American country on a mission in 1985, just three years after being ordained a priest, and returned in 1988 to lead the Augustinian seminary in the city of Trujillo, where he spent another 10 years. In 2014, he returned to the country as apostolic administrator of the diocese of Chiclayo and later served as bishop of that town in the north of the country. In Peru, his election was celebrated with headlines: "The Pope is Peruvian!" An enthusiasm that the most Latin American of the American papal cardinals returned, greeting in perfect Spanish his "beloved diocese of Peru, a faithful people who have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith, and given so much to continue being a Church faithful to Jesus Christ."

Counterweight to Trump?

There's an unwritten rule that a US cardinal cannot become pope because the Vatican needs a figure capable of acting as a counterweight to the world's leading power. But Robert Francis Prevost has been the first to break that taboo. That's not the only thing the new pope, Leo XIV, has shattered with his election. The Chicago cardinal is also the first prelate of the Augustinian order to sit on the chair of St. Peter.

His election was a complete surprise in a conclave where the main favorite was Francis' Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.. However, in recent days his name has crept onto the list of papal candidates thanks to his discretion – he has not given a single interview – and his impeccable record, which was only questioned at the last moment due to his alleged responsibility in the scandal of the Peruvian ultra-Catholic group Sodalicio, which Pope Francis is leaving.

As a member of the divided United States Conference of Bishops, his election could serve as a retaining wall against the government of Donald Trump, who from the White House He half-heartedly congratulated the new Bishop of Rome: "Prevost, first American pope. An honor."