Robert Prevost might have made historical past Thursday by changing into the primary pope from the US. However in Peru, he is called the saintly missionary who waded by way of mud after torrential rains flooded the area, bringing assist to needy folks, and because the bishop who spearheaded the life-saving buy of oxygen manufacturing vegetation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”He labored so arduous to seek out assist, that there was not solely sufficient for one plant, however for 2 oxygen vegetation,” stated Janinna Sesa, who met Pope Leo XIV whereas she labored for the church’s Caritas nonprofit in Peru.”He has no drawback fixing a broken-down truck till it runs,” she added.Pope Francis, historical past’s first Latin American pope, clearly noticed one thing in Pope Leo XIV early on.He first despatched him to Chiclayo in 2014, then introduced him to the Vatican in 2023 because the highly effective head of the workplace that vets bishop nominations, probably the most essential jobs within the Catholic Church.On Thursday, Prevost ascended to develop into Pope Leo XIV — the primary pontiff from the US.Pope Leo XIV, 69, needed to overcome the taboo in opposition to an American pope, given the geopolitical energy already wielded by the U.S. within the secular sphere.The Chicago native can be a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary after which as a bishop.He evoked his broad missionary expertise in his first public remarks as pope, talking in Italian, then switching to Spanish — and saying not a phrase in English as he addressed the group in St. Peter’s Sq..”Collectively, we should attempt to learn the way to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, dialogues, that is at all times open to obtain — like on this piazza with open arms — to have the ability to obtain all people that wants our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,” he stated.The brand new pope had prominence going into the conclave that few different cardinals have.Pope Leo XIV was twice elected prior common, or high chief, of the Augustinians, the thirteenth century spiritual order based by St. Augustine.After Francis despatched him to Chiclayo, he acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015, till Francis introduced him to Rome in 2023 to imagine the bishops’ workplace and presidency of the Pontifical Fee for Latin America. In that job he would have saved in common contact with the Catholic hierarchy within the a part of the world that counts essentially the most Catholics and presumably was essential to his election Thursday.The Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who is aware of the brand new pope, stated he was beloved in Peru for his closeness to his folks, particularly poor folks. He stated he was a champion of social justice points and environmental stewardship.”Even the bishops of Peru known as him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everybody,” Lam stated in an interview with The Related Press in Rome. “He was the one that would discover you alongside the way in which. He was this sort of bishop.”He stated that when Francis travelled to Peru in 2018, Pope Leo XIV camped out along with his flock on the bottom throughout the vigil earlier than Francis’ Mass. “Roberto has that type, that closeness. Perhaps they don’t seem to be nice institutional gestures, however are in human gestures.”Ever since arriving in Rome, Pope Leo XIV has saved a low public profile, however he’s well-known to the lads who rely.Considerably, he presided over probably the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three girls to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to ahead to the pope. In early 2025, Francis once more confirmed his esteem by appointing Pope Leo XIV to essentially the most senior rank of cardinals.The number of a U.S.-born pope may have profound affect on the way forward for the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been sharply divided between conservatives and progressives. Francis, with Pope Leo XIV’s assist on the assist of the bishop vetting workplace, had launched into a 12-year undertaking to rein within the traditionalist tendencies in the US.Pope Leo XIV’s election “is a deep signal of dedication to social points. I feel it’ll be thrilling to see a special sort of American Catholicism in Rome,” stated Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of spiritual research at Manhattan College in New York Metropolis.The bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Pope Leo XIV’s election was introduced. Folks outdoors the church expressed their want for a papal go to at one level.”For us Peruvians, it’s a supply of satisfaction that this can be a pope who represents our nation,” stated elementary faculty instructor Isabel Panez, who occurred to be close to the cathedral when the information was introduced. “We want him to go to us right here in Peru.”The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Pope Leo XIV’s previous diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising every day and having breakfast along with his fellow clergymen after saying his prayers.”Regardless of what number of issues he has, he maintains good humor and pleasure,” Purisaca stated in an electronic mail.Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977. He attended Villanova College close to Philadelphia, the place he acquired a Bachelor of Science in 1977, and he obtained a Grasp of Divinity diploma from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.In Rome, on the Augustinian headquarters simply off St. Peter’s Sq., the temper was festive.The Rev. Franz Klein, treasurer common of the Augustinian order, stated he was shocked by the information.”For us, the Augustinian order, this is among the greatest moments in historical past,” he stated. “I am stunned and really completely happy.” —Briceño reported from Lima, Peru. Francesca Primavilla and Trisha Thomas contributed.
Robert Prevost might have made historical past Thursday by changing into the primary pope from the US. However in Peru, he is called the saintly missionary who waded by way of mud after torrential rains flooded the area, bringing assist to needy folks, and because the bishop who spearheaded the life-saving buy of oxygen manufacturing vegetation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He labored so arduous to seek out assist, that there was not solely sufficient for one plant, however for 2 oxygen vegetation,” stated Janinna Sesa, who met Pope Leo XIV whereas she labored for the church’s Caritas nonprofit in Peru.
“He has no drawback fixing a broken-down truck till it runs,” she added.
Pope Francis, historical past’s first Latin American pope, clearly noticed one thing in Pope Leo XIV early on.
He first despatched him to Chiclayo in 2014, then introduced him to the Vatican in 2023 because the highly effective head of the workplace that vets bishop nominations, probably the most essential jobs within the Catholic Church.
On Thursday, Prevost ascended to develop into Pope Leo XIV — the primary pontiff from the US.
Pope Leo XIV, 69, needed to overcome the taboo in opposition to an American pope, given the geopolitical energy already wielded by the U.S. within the secular sphere.
The Chicago native can be a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary after which as a bishop.
He evoked his broad missionary expertise in his first public remarks as pope, talking in Italian, then switching to Spanish — and saying not a phrase in English as he addressed the group in St. Peter’s Sq..
“Collectively, we should attempt to learn the way to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, dialogues, that is at all times open to obtain — like on this piazza with open arms — to have the ability to obtain all people that wants our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,” he stated.
The brand new pope had prominence going into the conclave that few different cardinals have.
Pope Leo XIV was twice elected prior common, or high chief, of the Augustinians, the thirteenth century spiritual order based by St. Augustine.
After Francis despatched him to Chiclayo, he acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015, till Francis introduced him to Rome in 2023 to imagine the bishops’ workplace and presidency of the Pontifical Fee for Latin America. In that job he would have saved in common contact with the Catholic hierarchy within the a part of the world that counts essentially the most Catholics and presumably was essential to his election Thursday.
The Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru who is aware of the brand new pope, stated he was beloved in Peru for his closeness to his folks, particularly poor folks. He stated he was a champion of social justice points and environmental stewardship.
“Even the bishops of Peru known as him the saint, the Saint of the North, and he had time for everybody,” Lam stated in an interview with The Related Press in Rome. “He was the one that would discover you alongside the way in which. He was this sort of bishop.”
He stated that when Francis travelled to Peru in 2018, Pope Leo XIV camped out along with his flock on the bottom throughout the vigil earlier than Francis’ Mass. “Roberto has that type, that closeness. Perhaps they don’t seem to be nice institutional gestures, however are in human gestures.”
Ever since arriving in Rome, Pope Leo XIV has saved a low public profile, however he’s well-known to the lads who rely.
Considerably, he presided over probably the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three girls to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to ahead to the pope. In early 2025, Francis once more confirmed his esteem by appointing Pope Leo XIV to essentially the most senior rank of cardinals.
The number of a U.S.-born pope may have profound affect on the way forward for the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been sharply divided between conservatives and progressives. Francis, with Pope Leo XIV’s assist on the assist of the bishop vetting workplace, had launched into a 12-year undertaking to rein within the traditionalist tendencies in the US.
Pope Leo XIV’s election “is a deep signal of dedication to social points. I feel it’ll be thrilling to see a special sort of American Catholicism in Rome,” stated Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of spiritual research at Manhattan College in New York Metropolis.
The bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Pope Leo XIV’s election was introduced. Folks outdoors the church expressed their want for a papal go to at one level.
“For us Peruvians, it’s a supply of satisfaction that this can be a pope who represents our nation,” stated elementary faculty instructor Isabel Panez, who occurred to be close to the cathedral when the information was introduced. “We want him to go to us right here in Peru.”
The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Pope Leo XIV’s previous diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising every day and having breakfast along with his fellow clergymen after saying his prayers.
“Regardless of what number of issues he has, he maintains good humor and pleasure,” Purisaca stated in an electronic mail.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977. He attended Villanova College close to Philadelphia, the place he acquired a Bachelor of Science in 1977, and he obtained a Grasp of Divinity diploma from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.
In Rome, on the Augustinian headquarters simply off St. Peter’s Sq., the temper was festive.
The Rev. Franz Klein, treasurer common of the Augustinian order, stated he was shocked by the information.
“For us, the Augustinian order, this is among the greatest moments in historical past,” he stated. “I am stunned and really completely happy.”
—
Briceño reported from Lima, Peru. Francesca Primavilla and Trisha Thomas contributed.
