Latest news with #CardinalRobertPrevost
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
Pope Leo's impressive gym routine revealed by ex-personal trainer
From the hallowed halls of the Vatican to the weight racks of a Roman gym, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, has followed an unconventional path to the papacy. For two years, Prevost, appointed in 2023 to oversee bishop nominations, frequented the Omega gym in Rome's upscale Prati district, alongside priests, nuns, and local residents. The gym's owner, Francesco Tamburlani, recalled the moment he learned of Prevost's elevation. "When the name of the pope was announced, my phone rings and my son tells me, 'Dad, it's Robert! Robert, our member!'" Tamburlani recounted, noting the eruption of cheers from his staff. "This moved us, filled us with joy." Prevost, 69, maintained a rigorous workout regimen, surprising his personal trainer, Valerio Masella, with his stamina. Their sessions, two or three times a week, lasted up to an hour and involved a workout plan typically designed for men aged 50-55. So, how much does the pope bench? Masella can't speak to his papal power, since Prevost was focused on posture and cardiovascular capacity. He ran on his favorite treadmill that faces a mural featuring famous local landmarks, among them St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. 'We would start off slow and then go pretty strong, I must say. Especially a lot of resistance on the exercise bike, a very strong climb,' Masella said. Throughout their two-year training, Masella never knew Prevost was a cardinal, nor did he hear him utter a discouraging word. 'I don't think I've ever heard him make a comment about anything that wasn't positive. He was always positive about everything -- the weather, the city, the people, also for me, he said he liked the gym.' A Vatican spokesperson didn't reply when asked for comment. A sporting pope isn't new. Pope John Paul II, who was elected at the age of 58, was an avid skier and mountain trekker. Chicago-born Prevost's game is tennis. On May 15, he met top-ranked player Jannik Sinner, who gave him a racket and offered to play during an off day at the Italian Open. Leo had said earlier in the week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist. After Prevost took over the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, he said in an interview with the Augustinian Order that his new job had left him little free time to practice his game. While the Mediterranean climate makes tennis possible year-round, the papacy will likely leave him even fewer chances to step onto a court. Tamburlani, the Omega owner, says the Holy Father is welcome back any time he wants to squeeze in a workout. After all, his membership's still active. 'This would make us so happy,' he said. 'We would organize our gym to guarantee his safety and his privacy. We would just need a sign.'
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
Pope Leo XIV holds his first weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV called Wednesday for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the 'heartbreaking' toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy. 'I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly and sick people,' he said. The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups. The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra 'Peace be with you.' To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said. Meloni made the call after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer. 'Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,' Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday. Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants. Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV called Wednesday for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the 'heartbreaking' toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy. 'I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly and sick people,' he said. The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups. The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra 'Peace be with you.' To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said. Meloni made the call after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer. 'Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,' Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday. Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Dolton's plan to acquire Pope Leo XIV's childhood home, possibly through eminent domain, raises legal questions
A fight for ownership of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, raises questions about legality. The current owner of the home at 212 E. 141st Pl. has signaled that he plans to sell it at auction, and Dolton Mayor Jason House has said the village will seek to buy it, but if negotiations fail, could seek to acquire it through eminent domain. That's when a government body seizes private property for public use without the owner's consent, but pays the owner a fair amount for the value of the property. There is immense interest in what happens next to Pope Leo's childhood home in Dolton. "They're bringing rosaries, flowers. We light candles," said Donna Sagna Davis, who lives next door. Davis has erected a cross outside her own home; Gregorian chants belting from a speaker in her window via a playlist she found on YouTube. "I've seen a lot of people; people from Greece, people from Italy, Germany," she said. "One woman came and she prayed, touched the door of the pope's house, and she said she wanted to be healed." On the day then-Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope, the owner of the pontiff's childhood home said he learned about Pope Leo's election through his real estate agent while at a doctor's appointment with his pregnant wife. Polish and Catholic, he sees it as a blessing for his growing family. CBS News Chicago was the first to go inside the newly renovated house on the day Pope Leo was elected. With the house now a piece of history, Dolton Mayor Jason House has said the cash-strapped village plans to acquire it, either through direct purchase or through eminent domain powers. "We consistently say we want to make sure that we're partnering with the archdiocese to honor it in the right way," he said. But that plan – intersecting the use taxpayer funds and a religious organization – has raised concerns, and not just limited to the First Amendment separation of Church and State. "We have statutory problems dealing with eminent domain, and it has to be used for a public purpose, not for a private or for religious reasons. There are a lot of obstacles in this, and I think down the road, there's going to be a lot of legal issues," CBS News Chicago legal analyst Irv Miller said. The Archdiocese of Chicago said it "appreciates the outreach from the Village of Dolton and our preliminary discussions regarding the former Prevost family home." "At this time, the archdiocese does not have a plan in place concerning the property," the archdiocese added. On Wednesday, a group of Polish priests working in Chicago came by the house, leading a prayer over the home and its community. "I feel like God has come to Dolton, so I'm excited," Davis said. House did not immediately respond to a request for clarification about his statement regarding a partnership with the Archdiocese regarding the pope's childhood home. The home is still listed for auction, with bids accepted until June 18.
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV called Wednesday for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the 'heartbreaking' toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy. 'I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly and sick people,' he said. Leo didn't mention the plight of hostages taken by Hamas during the assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as Pope Francis normally would. The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups. The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra 'Peace be with you.' To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said. Meloni made the call after speaking with US President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer. 'Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,' Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday. Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants.
