Latest news with #HabemusPapam
Tatler Asia
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Holy performances: 10 actors who've played the Pope with flair
2. Jonathan Pryce – 'The Two Popes' (2019) Above 'The Two Popes' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) Mood: Humble tango uncle turned spiritual powerhouse Before he became the Pope Francis, Bergoglio was a Jesuit who challenged the system from within. Jonathan Pryce portrays him with warmth, humour and moral gravity. Imagine your most thoughtful philosophy professor suddenly getting the keys to the Vatican. Whether discussing football or forgiveness, Pryce's Francis radiates humility without losing steel, showing how reform can wear a smile but still carry a spine. 3. Jude Law – 'The Young Pope' (2016) and 'The New Pope' (2020) Above 'The Young Pope' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope Pius XIII (Lenny Belardo) Mood: Calvin Klein model with a divine complex Forget meek papal predecessors. Jude Law's Pope Pius XIII is a chain-smoking, cherry Coke-loving enigma who treats sainthood like a high-fashion campaign. Lenny Belardo isn't just the youngest pope ever; he's also the most mysterious, operating somewhere between messiah and pop star. Law's performance is unapologetically stylised, with just enough spiritual anguish to make the arrogance poetic. And yes, the slow-motion walk in full papal regalia set to LMFAO is a cultural reset. Also read: 6 definitive Sherlock Holmes performances on screen 4. John Malkovich – 'The New Pope' (2020) Above 'The New Pope' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope John Paul III (Sir John Brannox) Mood: Velvet-draped trauma in human form Where Jude Law was fire, John Malkovich is smoked glass and lingering incense. His turn as the deeply wounded, oddly droll Pope John Paul III is like watching a man quietly burn in couture. Brannox is a reluctant pope, more interested in tailoring than theology at times, and Malkovich lends him an air of aristocratic disillusionment. This is papal ennui wrapped in ecclesiastical embroidery—and it's weirdly magnificent. 5. Michel Piccoli – 'Habemus Papam' (2011) Above 'Habemus Papam' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Cardinal Melville Mood: Existential crisis in a biretta In Nanni Moretti's offbeat and unexpectedly tender Italian film, Michel Piccoli plays a cardinal who is elected pope and immediately panics. What follows is not a tale of power, but of paralysis. Melville wanders Rome incognito, dodging duty like it's a papal plague, and Piccoli brings heartbreaking nuance to a man who's supposed to be infallible but feels deeply, achingly human. It's a quiet masterpiece about the cost of calling. 6. Finlay Currie – 'Quo Vadis' (1951) Above 'Quo Vadis' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Saint Peter (the first Pope, technically) Mood: Original martyr with a fisherman's heart and a prophet's gravitas Finlay Currie plays Peter, the original keeper of the keys, in this Technicolor Roman epic. As lions roar and Nero fiddles, Currie's Peter offers moral clarity with solemn intensity. He may not have the modern Pope's Swiss Guard, but he's got sandals, scripture and a deep sense of duty that would make any Vatican Instagram post look shallow. 7. Robbie Coltrane – 'The Pope Must Die' (1991) Above 'The Pope Must Die' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope Dave Mood: Accidental pope with divine comedy timing This irreverent British satire sees Robbie Coltrane as a bumbling priest who accidentally becomes Pope. While Coltrane plays the lead, Tom Conti appears as the actual pontiff—before chaos ensues. It's Monty Python meets Vatican politics, and while purists might wince, it's a reminder that sometimes the collar's too big for comedy to ignore. 8. Jon Voight – 'Pope John Paul II' (2005) Above 'Pope John Paul II' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope John Paul II Mood: Academy Award gravitas meets Vatican gravitas Jon Voight took on the role of Karol Wojtyła in the latter half of this well-received CBS miniseries, tracing the pope's journey from World War II-era Poland to the Holy See. While Cary Elwes handled the younger years, it's Voight's performance—measured, deeply human and spiritually weighty—that anchors the series. He didn't just impersonate the pontiff; he embodied the man's moral resolve and inner warmth. So convincing was his portrayal that Pope Benedict XVI reportedly invited him to a special Vatican screening. A rare case of method acting meeting actual blessing. 9. Albert Finney – 'Pope John Paul II' (1984) Above 'Pope John Paul II' (Photo: IMDB) Role: Pope John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła) Mood: Gravitas in a cassock, with BBC-level seriousness Albert Finney tackled the life of Pope John Paul II with a quiet intensity in this 1984 television biopic. From his youth in Nazi-occupied Poland to his election as one of the most beloved modern popes, Finney plays the pontiff with spiritual depth and political clarity. The film, produced with Vatican cooperation, is earnest and reverent: less holy spectacle, more historical prestige drama. Finney's performance shines particularly in moments of moral resolve, capturing the strength and compassion that defined John Paul II's papacy. 10. Franco Nero – 'The Pope's Exorcist' (2023) Above 'The Pope's Exorcist' (Photo: IMDB) Role: The Pope (inspired by John Paul II) Mood: Vatican meets horror thriller, with a side of incense and Latin chants In a very different tonal universe, Franco Nero plays an unnamed Pope in The Pope's Exorcist , opposite Russell Crowe's demon-battling Father Gabriele Amorth. Though not explicitly called John Paul II, the character is clearly modelled after the real-life pontiff under whom Amorth served. Nero's papal portrayal adds a grounding calm to a film filled with blood, banshees and baroque exorcisms. He spends much of the movie consulting dossiers and praying gravely from his richly appointed study—a papal figure of faith and restraint, acting as the Vatican's spiritual compass while hell breaks loose.
CBS News
11-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
The papacy of Leo XIV begins
What will Pope Leo XIV mean for the Church? What will Pope Leo XIV mean for the Church? What will Pope Leo XIV mean for the Church? At Mass on Sunday, the 267th pope called for peace in ongoing conflicts, and wished Happy Mother's Day. It represents both continuity and change for this two-thousand-year-old church, now – for the first time – led by an American pope. Dressed in those storied papal vestments is a tennis-loving, Wordle-playing, White Sox fan from Chicago, a former math major at Villanova University who's now pontiff – Pope Leo XIV. Ahead of the conclave that selected Robert Prevost, there was the scramble for clues from cardinals. When we asked Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco if there had been names mentioned, he replied, "No. No names. No names." The anticipation in St. Peter's Square was palpable – watching and waiting for a sign. John and Jill Bowling traveled from Illinois, even though they're not Catholic. "We came just for this," said John. "Something I've wanted to do since I was a child watching on television," said Jill. "I just thought one day I want to be standing there." By Thursday afternoon, tens of thousands were shoulder-to-shoulder, hoping to witness history, until white smoke appeared, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced to the crowd, "Habemus papam" – "We have a pope." And soon we heard the name: Cardinal Prevost. On Thursday the appearance of white smoke announced to the 150,000 present in St. Peter's Square, and the world, that a new pope had been elected. CBS News To an estimated crowd of 150,000, the new pope spoke in Italian, Latin and Spanish, vowing to build bridges. Friday, he returned to the Sistine Chapel. There, the first native-English-speaking pope since Adrian IV of England in the 12th century said, "I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me." Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer in St. Peter's Square on May 11, 2025 in Vatican Cardinal Prevost was seen as papabile (or "pope-worthy"), a pontiff from the United States was widely considered unlikely. So, we were surprised when we heard this from papal biographer Austen Ivereigh ahead of the conclave: "I think you should probably get ready to have the first American pope. I'm hearing Cardinal Prevost, who heads up bishops here." He called it. "Yeah, I was pretty convinced," Ivereigh told us after the conclave. He was one of the few. "The list of requirements for a pope, it's not easy," Ivereigh said. "You've got to be evangelizer-in-chief. You need to be a statesman who can interact with world leaders. And you need to be a good governor of this place. And I thought, Prevost just brings those together in a beautiful way." On Saturday, the new pope made some surprise appearances, after meeting with cardinals to detail his vision, identifying artificial intelligence as one of our biggest threats, and embracing his predecessor's ideals of a more inclusive church – one that reaches to those on the margins. On Saturday Pope Leo XIV visited the tomb of Pope Francis, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggior in Rome. CBS News Prevost went to Peru as a missionary. He spent 20 years there, and became a citizen. "He's American, but he feels very Peruvian," said Father Alexander Lam, who's Peruvian. He was thrilled that his fellow Augustinian priest became pontiff. "We jumped!" he laughed. Asked what kind of pope Prevost will be, Lam replied, "He's very prudent, a person who can hear you passionately. He tries always to understand you very well." But that title, Leo XIV, may take some getting used to. "His very close friends call him Bob," Lam said. Those 133 cardinals took just two days to choose "Bob," while locked in the Sistine Chapel, a tradition born out of necessity back in 1268, in Viterbo, north of Rome. There, we met art historian Giordano Conticelli. "This is where the first conclave took place," he said. "Here, something really important happened. A group of cardinals gathered together to elect the new pope, and the problem was that it took a long time. It took about three years almost." 1,006 days, to be exact. I asked, "The citizens were getting tired of waiting for a pope?" "They were absolutely exhausted," Conticelli said. "So, they decided to lock the cardinals inside, clausi cum clave, which literally means locked with a key, which is where the word conclaves comes from." Correspondent Seth Doanec with art historian Giordano Conticelli at the papal palace in Viterbo, Italy, where competing factions of cardinals were deadlocked for three years in the 13th century over the selection of a pope. CBS News But then, things got more extreme. "The next measure was to ration their food," Conticelli said, "and then eventually given that wasn't working, they decided to remove the roof of the hall." Removing the roof to let in the elements was not necessary this time around. John and Jill Bowling had a much shorter wait. "It was just one of those moments that you can't replace," said John. "I was surprised how emotional I was. I think it says something about the unity of humanity – that was moving to me." Gathered in this timeless square, we met people of differing countries and convictions, many drawn not just by grand spectacle, but by belief – or hope – in a new moral leader who's guided not by national interests, but something greater. I asked Austen Ivereigh, "When we look back at this conclave, how will it be remembered?" "I think it might be remembered as the conclave that had to deal with the breakdown of the world order," he replied. "They elected a man who had a very strong message from the balcony of bringing peace to the Earth. What is the role of the Catholic Church in a time of war? Well, it's to obviously show the world that there is another way. And I think, in Leo, we're going to see an American exercising a very different kind of leadership, and it's the task of the pope to help us to recover that universal unity." For more info: Story produced by Mikaela Bufano. Editor: Ed Givnish. See also:
New York Times
10-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
How Front Pages Around the World Covered the Selection of Pope Leo XIV
Newspapers around the world on Friday covered the election of a new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, with big photos, plays on words and nods to his nationalities. Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, made history as the first North American pope, and plenty of tabloids and broadsheets played up his background as an American. Many newspapers used the Latin phrase 'Habemus papam,' which means 'We have a pope.' For English newspapers, it was a rare appearance of a foreign phrase in a headline. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France used that phrase, prompting cheers, after he emerged on the papal balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to introduce the new pope. Overwhelmingly, newspapers ran with images of Leo XIV as he greeted the world as pope for the first time, waving to crowds from the papal balcony. L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, which is in Italian, had a full-page spread with a Latin headline that translated to: 'We have a Pope. Robert Francis Prevost who gave himself the name Leo XIV.' Many foreign outlets highlighted Pope Leo XIV's American roots. The Irish Daily Mirror led with 'Let U.S. Pray' and Le Temps, a Swiss French-language newspaper, went with 'HabemUS Papam.' The Sun, a British tabloid, declared 'God Bless American.' Newspapers in Chicago highlighted the pope, who grew up in Dolton, Ill., a Chicago suburb, as a hometown hero. The Chicago Tribune claimed Pope Leo XIV for the city, writing 'Chicago's pope.' The front page of The Chicago Sun-Times read 'DA POPE!' in a cheeky allusion to the Chicago Bears, the football team nicknamed by fans as 'Da Bears.' The Philadelphia Inquirer, which carried the headline 'An American Pope,' was quick to note in a subhead that Pope Leo XIV is an alumnus of Villanova University, the Catholic school based in a Philadelphia suburb. While Corriere della Sera of Milan said 'Il Papa americano,' Peru's Correo proclaimed 'UN PAPA PERUANO.' Though Pope Leo XIV is not of Peruvian birth, some in the country have claimed him as one of their own. He lived in Peru as a missionary for many years, before serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, from 2015 to 2023. El Mercurio, a Chilean newspaper, compromised in its headline, calling Pope Leo XIV both Peruvian and American. (He is a dual citizen.) Some newspapers decided to lead with the pope's papal name instead of his background or nationality. Plenty of outlets, from Diário de Notícias in Portugal and Libération in France, had headlines that said 'Leo.' These outlets chose to publish a more pious posture, picturing Pope Leo XIV with his hands clasped in prayer. Others quoted Pope Leo XIV's first message as the leader of the Catholic Church: ''Peace be with you,'' read The San Francisco Chronicle headline.
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
The journey of Pope Leo XIV, successor of Pope Francis: From Chicago to the Vatican
As white smoke emanated out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel and the traditional Habemus Papam was proclaimed on May 8, Pope Leo XIV officially became the successor of Pope Francis. Originally Robert Francis Prevost, the 69-year-old pontiff has taken the papal name Leo XIV, becoming the first American to ascend to the highest position in the Catholic Church. As the two-day conclave ended, thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square erupted into cheers as the new pope appeared on the balcony. And a new chapter began for the Catholic Church. Here's a look at the journey that led to Pope Leo XIV's election. Born in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost grew up in a devout Catholic family in the Midwest. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine (O S A) in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. Prevost was sent to Peru shortly after ordination, where he spent nearly two decades working with marginalised communities and earned the nickname 'the Saint of the North.' There, he taught theology, offered pastoral care, and oversaw the training of local clergy. His fluency in Spanish and immersion in Latin American cultures earned him widespread respect. Even the bishops of Peru called him the saint…and he had time for everyone' said Rev. Alexander Lam, an Augustinian friar from Peru, in an interview with The Associated Press. In 2001, he was elected Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, serving two six-year terms at the order's headquarters in Rome. As head of the worldwide order, he oversaw thousands of friars and missions globally. Upon completing his term, Prevost returned to Peru, where Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015. In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican, naming him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops—a high-ranking role responsible for selecting bishops around the world. He was also a central figure in one of Francis's most progressive moves—appointing women to the voting body responsible for bishop appointments. In early 2025, Francis elevated him to the highest rank among cardinals. Pope Leo XIV's social media history came under scrutiny on Thursday as critics unearthed past posts by his X account. Before assuming the papacy, he had posted critiques of US President Donald Trump and Vice President J D Vance, particularly on issues of immigration and human rights. Watch: Trump defends AI-generated image of Pope, says 'Catholics loved it' In April, he reposted a comment referencing Trump's meeting with El Salvador's President Bukele: 'Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed?' In February, he reposted an article titled: 'J D Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.' On Thursday, Trump responded positively: 'To have the pope from the United States of America, that's a great honour.' He confirmed that the Vatican had already reached out to schedule a meeting. Pope Leo XIV is widely expected to continue the legacy of Pope Francis, especially on migration, climate, and social justice. 'We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice,' he posted on X in May 2020. As the first American pope, he could also have a significant impact on the future of US Catholic Church, which is currently seeing rising political tensions between the conservatives and the progressives. 'Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church — to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love,' the new pope declared in his first speech. (With inputs from Reuters, AP)
Saudi Gazette
09-05-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Pope Leo XIV marks new beginning for Catholic Church
VATICAN — After the sorrow of death, the joy of a new beginning. The warm May sun was still high in the sky when a roar echoed out in the streets surrounding St Peter's Square. One street over, startled people looked at each other, then at their phones. Then, they began to run down the narrow alleyways leading to the Vatican. "White smoke, they're saying white smoke!", they called out. By the time they reached the square, a white haze was still hovering over the left-hand side of the Apostolic Palace where 133 cardinals had been locked away since the day before, voting to elect the new head of the Catholic Church. As the evening sunshine streamed through the statues of the apostles on the ledge of St Peter's Basilica and bells tolled joyously over the square, young and older people zig-zagged through the crowd, and a group of nuns held hands as they swerved journalists and cameras. It was less than three weeks ago that Pope Francis blessed the crowds from the balcony at St Peter's, and his memory hung over the square on Thursday; almost everyone asked to share their impressions mentioned Francis and the need for the new Pope to follow in his footsteps. "We just arrived today from America," one woman named Amanda told the BBC. "It feels like a blessing. We came here for this and here it is." "Divine timing!" she joked. Two stylish women in their 20s said they were "about to cry". "It's a historic moment, it's crazy," one said, adding she hoped the next Pope would be "at least as good as the last one". This was a sentiment echoed by many in those last minutes before Pope Leo XIV was announced. "It doesn't matter to us where he's from as long as he follows in on Francis' footsteps and creates unity for all of us Catholics," said a French woman as she herded her five children to get closer to the front of the square. By the time Dominique Mamberti — the proto-deacon tasked with delivering the iconic "Habemus Papam" address to the square — appeared on the balcony, St Peter's was full to the brim. It fell silent, though, once Robert Francis Prevost's name was read out. Those in the know may have identified the Chicago-born 69-year-old cardinal — who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made a bishop there – as a potential pontiff early on. But many people in the square looked puzzled at first, and the complete lack of phone coverage meant that most couldn't look him up on the internet — so the first impression most got of Pope Leo XIV came down to the way he introduced himself from the ornate balcony. Visibly moved at first, and dressed in white and red vestments and speaking in confident — if lightly accented — Italian, he read out a much lengthier speech than the remarks made by his predecessor Francis in 2013. "I would like this greeting of peace to reach all your hearts and families... and people around the world. May peace be with you," the new Pope began as the square fell silent. At other moments, his address was met with frequent warm applause, especially when he mentioned "peace" — which he did on nine occasions — and the late Francis. A section of the speech delivered in Spanish in which Pope Leo XIV remembered his time in Peru was met with cheers from various pockets of South Americans dotted across the square. He also insisted on the need for unity, and at the end asked everyone to join together in prayer. When he began reciting Ave Maria, a deep hum rose as the square followed suit, with some praying in their own languages. The crowd began to slowly amble out of the square shortly after. As people streamed past them, a young couple held each other close, beaming. "I still have goosebumps," said Carla, from Barcelona. "The energy is contagious, it's amazing — it's our first time here, and for me it's 100% surreal," said Juan, who is from Ecuador and had never been to the Vatican before. Asked what his hope for Pope Leo XIV was, he said: "That the Holy Spirit guides him. I hope that means we can all be united together going forward." Gemma, a Rome resident, said she hadn't even heard the name Robert Prevost until she came across it on Instagram this morning. "The reaction of the square wasn't that warm," her friend Marco added. "If he'd been Italian everyone would have kicked off." "But it was a beautiful evening, a beautiful occasion," said Gemma. "It was my first conclave. And this new Pope is only 69, so who knows when the next one will be?" The square emptied. The restaurants around the Vatican filled up with pilgrims, clergy, and tourists. Couples snapped the last selfies outside the basilica. Over in the Apostolic Palace — now unsealed — Robert Prevost held a moment of private prayer. Then, for the first time, he re-entered the Sistine Chapel as Leo XIV, the 267th Pope. — BBC
