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| Newly elected Leo XIV on St. Peter's Basilica balcony (May 8, 2025) and as a university student |
I'm a little late in getting this post up. Although I rushed to the tv when the sight of white smoke was announced, I'm still a little stunned that a fellow North American was elected Pope. Nobody not even hardcore Vatican Watches expected it. Just imagining being in St. Peter's Square when Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the balcony to speak to the crowd gives me chills. Our new Pope is such a pleasing mixture of humility and confidence, I was very moved watching the 2,000 year old tradition unfold on television.
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| Brothers Robert, John, and Louis Prevost 1958 |
What an honor it is to have a U.S. born Pope elected by the most diverse College of Cardinals in history to provide much needed moral leadership and compassion to the world. Imagine the weight carried on the shoulders of one human in taking on such an exalted role.
To friends on Facebook I said, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (age 69), now Pope Leo XIV ''is having a promising first day, and seems like the right man for the job. Worldly, intelligent; knows the Vatican, South America and the USA. Close with Pope Francis, and I like that he is from Chicago," in other words, a fantastic combination to be a world spiritual leader of so many adherents and non-adherents alike!
I've read that our new Pope has French and Italian ancestry (so the Italians weren't completely left out) on his father's side and Spanish (Louisiana Creole and Haitian) on his mother's side. Her maiden name was Martinez, so I presume there were some amazingly delicious meals in the Prevost home. What did Mrs. Prevost ("Ms." wasn't used in the 1950s or 60s) cook for her 3 precious little boys? Ahhh!
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| Photo: People |
The new Holy Father was a math major, graduating from Villanova University in 1977 and reportedly was accepted into Harvard Law School, but instead decided to administer to the poor by becoming an Augustinian missionary for many years starting in 1985 in Peru. The Peruvians consider him their Pope, calling him Papa Leon. Translates into Lion. He also earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982 and received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, where he also lived for 12 years.
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| Photo: NYT |
It's admirable that Pope Leo XIV knew what he wanted to do from an early age, namely to be of service to people, to lift them up and improve their lives. He prepared himself to serve God through education and by doing!
Leo I (the Great) served from 440 - 461 AD during a crucial period of theological debates when the Church was defining its doctrines. At the time a heresy claimed that Christ had only a Devine nature. Leo I played a key role in defining the dual nature of Christ as fully Devine and fully human.
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| Robert, Louis and John Prevost with their mother Mildred |
Leo XIII, whose name, the newest Pope is honoring, wrote an encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891 which addresses the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers to offer workers fair wages, safety and dignity. Certainly the College of Cardinals knew that in our present day, another pastoral Pope is exactly what is needed, but also a globally exposed one who knows doctrine.🎯
I'm happy our new Pontiff has 2 living older brothers because I think being a Pope is a lonely job without family, close friends, and perhaps a dog as a loyal companion. No matter which way he turns, he'll encounter criticism once the Honeymoon is over.
Too darn cute. Photos from CBS This Morning.
I like what a longtime friend of Pope Leo XIV, Rev Robert Hagan, said on the PBS News Hour about the new Pope's character: "He's not someone who 'looks for a fight,' but also 'won't walk away' from one. This ... suggests a man who is not combative, but also firm and resolute when faced with injustice or challenges." I see a new Pope who will take difficult issues on but I also don't envy him!
I'll bring the blog back home to the USA with what commentators Brooks and Capehart had to say about Pope Leo XIV's potential impact on US culture and politics.
As the famous saying goes, if you enter the Conclave as a Pope you'll leave as a cardinal. So how did Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost become the first US Pope in history? IMHO like everything else hard, high profile or elusive in life, preparation meets opportunity. The stars just have to align in the right way at the right time. We follow our intellect and passions and go where they lead us. The boy wanted to be a priest. There is no way he could have known where exactly it would lead. But he was doing what he knew he should be doing. He was willing to study, work, leave the country and serve. He put in the time. He was recognized by his bosses and peers. He was open ... and when those stars aligned and he was ready, he became the Pope. How inspiring.
✝☧ Viva il Papa! 🕊️🇻🇦
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