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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'God loves Peru': Country celebrates new Pope as one of their own
Halfway through Leo XIV's first speech as pope, which he delivered in Italian, he stopped and asked if he might say a few words in Spanish. Smiling, he continued: "A greeting to all and in particular to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru." The first American pope is a citizen of Peru and has spent much of his life there, travelling between the two countries for decades until 2014, when Pope Francis appointed him bishop of the Chiclayo Diocese in the country's north. On Thursday, Peruvians rejoiced at the appointment of one of their own to the highest position in the Catholic Church. Standing near Lima's cathedral shortly after bells rang out in celebration of the appointment, elementary school teacher Isabel Panez said: "For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country." Prevost would often say that he had "come from Chicago to Chiclayo – the only difference is a few letters," Diana Celis, who attended several Masses officiated by the then Bishop Robert Prevost, told the Associated Press news agency. He reportedly referred to Peru, where around three quarters of people are Catholic, as "mi segunda patria" – my second homeland. Peru's president, Dina Voluarte, described Pope Leo as Peruvian "by choice and conviction". "The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," she said. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent. After completing studies in theology in Chicago and in canon law in Rome, the Catholic Church sent him to Peru for the first time. He arrived at the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, in the Peruvian department of Piura, in 1985, aged 30, and the following year, joined the mission in Trujillo. For almost three decades, he worked between the US and Peru. Then, in 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost bishop of Chiclayo, a position he assumed the following year, after becoming a Peruvian citizen. Jose Luis Perez Guadalupe, who was the minister responsible for signing Prevost's naturalisation, told BBC Mundo that he was "a very attentive and very thoughtful man, who listened more than he spoke." These were his first encounters with a country that would come to shape his life. Janinna Sesa, who met Prevost while she worked for the church's Caritas nonprofit, told the Associated Press during torrential rains in 2022 he waded through mud to help people in Chiclayo and nearby villages. He also delivered food and blankets to remote Andean villages, driving a white pickup truck and sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. There, Sesa said, Prevost ate whatever was offered to him, including the peasant diet consisting of potatoes, cheese and sweet corn. But, if the opportunity came up, he would enjoy carne asada – one of his favorite dishes – accompanied by a glass of Coca-Cola. He also had an interest in cars. "He has no problem fixing a broken-down truck until it runs," Sesa said. Prevost was the driving force for the purchase of two oxygen-production plants during the coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than 217,000 people across Peru. "He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants," Sesa said. Edinson Farfán, the Peruvian Bishop of Chiclayo since 2024, said Pope Leo would continue Pope Francis's legacy of working with the poor and advocating for "a Church with open doors". He was "very close to Pope Francis", he said. "He was undoubtedly deeply influenced by this particular Church of Chiclayo. Chiclayo is a city that greatly values the simple faith of its people. He has a special affection for the diocese." "It's his beloved diocese, it's his life. He learned here everything he can share and will share with the entire world." But not all in the country are proud of his record. Serious accusations have been made about his handling of sexual abuse cases during his time as Bishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, three Peruvian women went public with claims that as bishop he failed to investigate their reports of having been abused as teenagers by two priests in Chiclayo, dating back to 2007. They said that when they raised their allegations with the diocese in 2022, no proper inquiry was opened. Church officials in Chiclayo said that action was taken and the accused priests were put on precautionary suspension, and that the case was referred to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles serious abuse cases. The diocese said it was Rome's decision to shelve the case without a full canonical trial and that it conducted a preliminary investigation. These allegations about his leadership are one of the challenges he will face as he now heads the Church worldwide. Perez Guadalupe said that while Prevost primarily remained focused on church matters in Peru, he was "very attentive to the reality" of the country. In 2023, when violent anti-government protests following the ousting of then-president Pedro Castillo left 49 dead, Prevost told Peruvian media he felt "much sorrow and much pain". That year, Pope Francis called Prevost to Rome to serve as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world and one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. He was also appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Prevost said that he had asked Pope Francis to allow him to remain in Peru longer. As he heard Prevost was the new pope, Thomas Nicolini, a Peruvian who studies economics in Rome, went to St Peter's Square. He told the AP that Chiclayo is, "A beautiful area, but one of the regions that needs lots of hope." "So, now I'm expecting that the new pope helps as many people as possible, and tries to reignite, let's say, the faith young people have lost."
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Peru celebrates celebrates Pope Leo XIV as one of their own
Halfway through Leo XIV's first speech as pope, which he delivered in Italian, he stopped and asked if he might say a few words in he continued: "A greeting to all and in particular to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru."The first American pope is a citizen of Peru and has spent much of his life there, travelling between the two countries for decades until 2014, when Pope Francis appointed him bishop of the Chiclayo Diocese in the country's Thursday, Peruvians rejoiced at the appointment of one of their own to the highest position in the Catholic near Lima's cathedral shortly after bells rang out in celebration of the appointment, elementary school teacher Isabel Panez said: "For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country."Prevost would often say that he had "come from Chicago to Chiclayo – the only difference is a few letters," Diana Celis, who attended several Masses officiated by the then Bishop Robert Prevost, told the Associated Press news reportedly referred to Peru, where around three quarters of people are Catholic, as "mi segunda patria" – my second president, Dina Voluarte, described Pope Leo as Peruvian "by choice and conviction"."The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," she said. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish completing studies in theology in Chicago and in canon law in Rome, the Catholic Church sent him to Peru for the first time. He arrived at the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, in the Peruvian department of Piura, in 1985, aged 30, and the following year, joined the mission in Trujillo. For almost three decades, he worked between the US and Peru. Then, in 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost bishop of Chiclayo, a position he assumed the following year, after becoming a Peruvian citizen. Jose Luis Perez Guadalupe, who was the minister responsible for signing Prevost's naturalisation, told BBC Mundo that he was "a very attentive and very thoughtful man, who listened more than he spoke."These were his first encounters with a country that would come to shape his life. Janinna Sesa, who met Prevost while she worked for the church's Caritas nonprofit, told the Associated Press during torrential rains in 2022 he waded through mud to help people in Chiclayo and nearby also delivered food and blankets to remote Andean villages, driving a white pickup truck and sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. There, Sesa said, Prevost ate whatever was offered to him, including the peasant diet consisting of potatoes, cheese and sweet corn. But, if the opportunity came up, he would enjoy carne asada – one of his favorite dishes – accompanied by a glass of also had an interest in cars. "He has no problem fixing a broken-down truck until it runs," Sesa said. Prevost was the driving force for the purchase of two oxygen-production plants during the coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than 217,000 people across Peru."He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants," Sesa Farfán, the Peruvian Bishop of Chiclayo since 2024, said Pope Leo would continue Pope Francis's legacy of working with the poor and advocating for "a Church with open doors". He was "very close to Pope Francis", he said. "He was undoubtedly deeply influenced by this particular Church of Chiclayo. Chiclayo is a city that greatly values the simple faith of its people. He has a special affection for the diocese.""It's his beloved diocese, it's his life. He learned here everything he can share and will share with the entire world." But not all in the country are proud of his record. Serious accusations have been made about his handling of sexual abuse cases during his time as Bishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, three Peruvian women went public with claims that as bishop he failed to investigate their reports of having been abused as teenagers by two priests in Chiclayo, dating back to 2007. They said that when they raised their allegations with the diocese in 2022, no proper inquiry was officials in Chiclayo said that action was taken and the accused priests were put on precautionary suspension, and that the case was referred to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles serious abuse diocese said it was Rome's decision to shelve the case without a full canonical trial and that it conducted a preliminary allegations about his leadership are one of the challenges he will face as he now heads the Church worldwide. Perez Guadalupe said that while Prevost primarily remained focused on church matters in Peru, he was "very attentive to the reality" of the country. In 2023, when violent anti-government protests following the ousting of then-president Pedro Castillo left 49 dead, Prevost told Peruvian media he felt "much sorrow and much pain". That year, Pope Francis called Prevost to Rome to serve as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world and one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. He was also appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Prevost said that he had asked Pope Francis to allow him to remain in Peru he heard Prevost was the new pope, Thomas Nicolini, a Peruvian who studies economics in Rome, went to St. Peter's Square. He told the AP that Chiclayo is, "A beautiful area, but one of the regions that needs lots of hope." "So, now I'm expecting that the new pope helps as many people as possible, and tries to reignite, let's say, the faith young people have lost."
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Rejoicing Peruvians see Pope Leo XIV as one of their own
Peruvians were elated Thursday after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country and who they see as one of their own was elected pope. Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as a bishop. That made him the first pope from each country. In Peru's capital, Lima, the bells of the cathedral rang after Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as Pope Francis' successor. People outside the church quickly expressed their desire for a papal visit. "For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country," said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who was near the cathedral when the news was announced. "We would like him to visit us here in Peru." Leo, standing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time as pope, addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo, which sits just 9 miles (14 kilometers) from Peru's northern Pacific coast and is among the country's most populous cities. "Greetings... to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith," he said. "From Chicago to Chiclayo" Thomas Nicolini, a Peruvian who studies economics in Rome, said he went to St. Peter's Square as soon as he heard Prevost was the new pope. "That's a beautiful area, but one of the regions that needs lots of hope," he said referring to Chiclayo. "So, now I'm expecting that the new pope helps as many people as possible, and tries to reignite, let's say, the faith young people have lost." Diana Celis, who attended several Masses officiated by Prevost in Chiclayo, told The Associated Press that he would often repeat that he had "come from Chicago to Chiclayo, the only difference is a few letters." Chiclayo, with a population of more than 800,000, plays a vital role as the main commercial hub of Peru's northern coast, with highways linking it to the Andes mountains and Amazon region. Its surrounding lands are agriculturally productive. But despite its economic importance, Chiclayo faces social challenges and about 20% of its population lives in poverty. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost has held Peruvian nationality since 2015, Peru's national register agency confirmed Thursday. In 2014, he served as the administrator and later bishop of Chiclayo and remained in that position until Francis summoned him to Rome in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. "He will be very sensitive to the social doctrine of the Church and will undoubtedly be attentive to the signs of the times," the Rev. Edinson Farfán, bishop of Chiclayo, told reporters. Yet a network of survivors of Catholic clergy sex abuse raised concerns about Prevost's handling of complaints filed while he was bishop of Chiclayo in 2022. The Peruvian Bishops' Conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP regarding the mishandling accusations alleged by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Helping the needy through rains and the pandemic Janinna Sesa, who met Prevost while she worked for the church's Caritas nonprofit, said he is the kind of person who will "put on boots and wade through the mud" to help those most in need. She said he did just that in 2022, when torrential rains affected Chiclayo and nearby villages. He also delivered food and blankets to remote Andean villages, driving a white pickup truck and sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. In those villages, Sesa said, Prevost ate whatever was offered to him, including the peasant diet consisting of potatoes, cheese and sweet corn. But, if the opportunity came up, he would enjoy carne asada – one of his favorite dishes – accompanied by a glass of Coca-Cola. "He has no problem fixing a broken-down truck until it runs," she said, highlighting his automotive interest. Sesa added that Prevost was also the driving force for the purchase of two oxygen-production plants during the coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than 217,000 people across Peru. "He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants," she said. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte said Prevost's election was a "historic moment" for Peru and the U.S. "He chose to be one of us, to live among us, and to carry in his heart the faith, culture, and dreams of this nation," she said in a video message in which she also recalled that Prevost chose to become a Peruvian citizen "as an expression of his profound love for Peru."
Sky News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Conclave live: First US pope says church must 'build bridges' in balcony address - as world leaders send their congratulations
TIME magazine reveals new cover showing Pope Leo XIV TIME magazine has revealed its new cover showing first US Pope Leo XIV. The new pontiff is a dual citizen of the US and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as an archbishop. That makes him the first pope from each country. New pope 'a source of pride' for Peruvians Today's election of Pope Leo XIV, an American who spent time in Peru, has been hailed by faithful in the Latin American nation. The new pontiff is a dual citizen of the US and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as an archbishop. In Peru's capital, Lima, the bells of the cathedral rang out after the news was announced. "For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country," said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who was near the cathedral when the identity of the new pope was announced. "We would like him to visit us here in Peru." Reverend Edinson Farfan, bishop of Chiclayo, said: "He will be very sensitive to the social doctrine of the Church and will undoubtedly be attentive to the signs of the times." 'We believe the US needs hope' Sky's Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins was in St Peter's Square when the new pope emerged. She said the scenes were "amazing" and adds: "The whole crowd roared when they saw white smoke and the excitement only built from there." US reverend Dr Elizabeth Serrano, who was also there when the historic moment unfolded, told Robbins it was "incredible and unexpected". "We believe the US needs hope and I feel this new pope will bring hope to the US," she added. New pope 'will certainly speak out for marginalised and poor' Ruth Gledhill, an assistant editor at the Catholic journal, The Tablet, has said Pope Leo XIV is definitely not a "compromise candidate". "He's already been outspoken about what's happening in America at the moment on the X account that he was running very actively before the conclave, before the election," he said. "And he is really a man of huge principle. He is a bridge builder, so I'm not sure that he will be really conflict-oriented in terms of going up against people. He will try to build bridges. "But he will certainly speak out in the tradition of Pope Francis for the marginalised, the poor and the people on the fringes of society." JD Vance welcomes first American pope JD Vance, who was baptised Catholic in 2019 and notably met Pope Francis in the days before his death, has hailed the news about the new pontiff. Here is what he wrote on X... Meloni speaks of pope's 'spiritual authority' In a letter to Pope Leo XIV, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke of the new pontiff's "spiritual and moral authority". She said: "Italians will look to you as a guide and point of reference, recognizing in the Pope and the Church that spiritual and moral authority that derives from its inexhaustible message of love, charity and hope, which flows from the Word of God." She joins a number of political and religious leaders tonight who have congratulated the new pope who has become the first American head of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo is 'a man of peace' The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has told Sky's Mark Austin he feels "encouraged and deeply hopeful" that with Pope Leo the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church will continue working together. He said "today was a joyful and hopeful day for all Christian people" and while he did not know the new pope personally he was "moved" by what he heard Pope Leo say. "His opening words were peace for the whole world," he said. Asked what it could mean for the relationship between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, Cottrell added: "We are on a journey of working and walking together. "I feel encouraged and deeply hopeful that with Pope Leo that journey will continue. "I loved his humility and humanity." He added that Pope Leo came across as "a man of peace". American pope might be in better position to deal with abuse scandal, newspaper editor says There was a "long-standing rumour" that there would never be an American pope, says Charles Collins, managing editor of Crux, a Catholic publication. "The fact that he's an American is very interesting," he told Sky News. "The fact that he's an American means that he will have better access to really wealthy American Catholics to be able to help solve the financial crisis that's been hitting the Vatican. "And I'm not going to say that played a role in his election, but it might have played a role in his election." He also spoke about the abuse scandal that still rocks the Catholic Church. "I think an American might be in a better position because, frankly, the United States government and the state governments have been making really strong actions against priestly paedophilia, and he's going to be very familiar with that... "And he's in a position to get ahead of it in a lot of countries which haven't dealt with it yet." Obama congratulates new US pope Barack Obama has congratulated the first-ever US pope. Earlier, Pope Leo XIV emerged onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica as a packed St Peter's Square erupted in cheers and applause. He was Cardinal Robert Prevost, from Chicago, and is fairly young for a Pope, at the age of 69. Starmer: This is a momentous moment Sir Keir Starmer has called the election of Pope Leo a "momentous moment". He has also said he looks forward to meeting the new pontiff. You can read Starmer's full statement on X here...
BreakingNews.ie
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Peruvians elated after cardinal who spent years in country is elected Pope
Peruvians were elated on Thursday after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country and who they see as one of their own was elected Pope. Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as an archbishop. That made him the first Pope from each country. Advertisement In Peru's capital, Lima, the bells of the cathedral rang after Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as Pope Francis's successor. People outside the church quickly expressed their desire for a papal visit. 'For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a Pope who represents our country,' said primary school teacher Isabel Panez, who was near the cathedral when the news was announced. 'We would like him to visit us here in Peru.' The faithful hold a photo of then Bishop Robert Prevost, who was elected Pope Leo XIV, in front of the Cathedral of Chiclayo in Peru (Manuel Medina/AP) Leo, standing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica for the first time as Pope, addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo, which sits just nine miles (14km) from Peru's northern Pacific coast and is among the country's most populous cities. Advertisement 'Greetings … to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith,' he said. Thomas Nicolini, a Peruvian who studies economics in Rome, said he went to St Peter's Square as soon as he heard Cardinal Prevost was the new Pope. 'That's a beautiful area, but one of the regions that needs lots of hope,' he said referring to Chiclayo. 'So, now I'm expecting that the new Pope helps as many people as possible, and tries to reignite, let's say, the faith young people have lost.' Diana Celis, who attended several masses officiated by Cardinal Prevost in Chiclayo, told The Associated Press that he would often repeat that he had 'come from Chicago to Chiclayo, the only difference is a few letters'. Advertisement Born in Chicago in 1955, Cardinal Prevost has held Peruvian nationality since 2015, Peru's national register agency confirmed Thursday. In 2014, he served as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo and remained in that position until Francis summoned him to Rome in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. 'He will be very sensitive to the social doctrine of the Church and will undoubtedly be attentive to the signs of the times,' the Rev Edinson Farfan, bishop of Chiclayo, told reporters. Janinna Sesa, who met Cardinal Prevost while she worked for the church's Caritas nonprofit, said he is the kind of person who will 'put on boots and wade through the mud' to help those most in need. Advertisement She said he did just that in 2022, when torrential rains affected Chiclayo and nearby villages. He also delivered food and blankets to the remote Andean villages, driving a white pick-up truck and sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. In those villages, Ms Sesa said, Cardinal Prevost ate whatever was offered to him, including the peasant diet consisting of potatoes, cheese and sweetcorn. But, if the opportunity came up, he would enjoy carne asada – one of his favourite dishes – accompanied by a glass of Coca-Cola. 'He has no problem fixing a broken down truck until it runs,' she said. Advertisement Ms Sesa added that Cardinal Prevost was also the driving force for the purchase of two oxygen-production plants during the coronavirus pandemic, which killed more than 217,000 people across Peru. 'He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants,' she said.
