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New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
For US Cardinal Prevost, road to becoming Pope Leo was paved in Peru
VATICAN CITY: Cardinal Robert Prevost may be the first person from the US to become the head of the Catholic Church, but his surprising election by the world's cardinals as Pope Leo XIV probably had less to do with his birthplace than his former workplace. Prevost, a relative unknown on the world stage, spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and became a senior Vatican official and a cardinal only in 2023. His first assignment as a bishop was in Chiclayo, in northwest Peru, where he served from 2015 to 2023. For the 133 cardinals locked in conclave in the Sistine Chapel to pick a successor to Pope Francis — an Argentine and the first pontiff from the Americas — this was likely no small detail. "For us, he's the second Latin American pope," Fernando Morales-de la Cruz, a Guatemalan human rights activist, told Reuters. Prevost has dual US–Peruvian nationality. But unlike Francis, who was elected pope in 2013 after serving for decades as a local bishop and had no Vatican experience, Prevost was not a complete outsider. He spent the last two years leading the powerful Vatican office that helps decide which priests are appointed as Catholic bishops across the world. He also took part in two Vatican assemblies of global bishops hosted by Francis in 2023 and 2024. With his combined experiences, he becomes pope with a head start on some of the big issues facing the 1.4 billion-member Church and is already well known by many of the cardinals. Given the secrecy of the conclave, not much will be known — at least for now — about the thinking of the cardinal-electors and how their rounds of voting went up to the moment they made their choice on Thursday. But some analysts have theories, including about how Prevost overcame what was until now thought to be an unlikely proposition: a US cardinal becoming pope. "Before the conclave, the American cardinals thought a US passport was a dealbreaker," said Michael Sean Winters, a US commentator who has followed the Vatican closely. But cardinals decided that Prevost's nationality, given his experience in Latin America, "was not an insuperable barrier", he said. "What they wanted was someone known among the other cardinals and also committed to carrying on with Francis' reforms," said Winters. "And more than any other papal contender, Prevost had both things." In Donald Trump's second US presidency, the cardinals may have also seen real value — for the first time — in elevating another American as pope. Francis was a sharp critic of Trump, saying earlier this year that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US was a "disgrace". "As for why the cardinals picked (Prevost), I have to wonder if elevating a 'different sort of American leader' wasn't a part of the discernment process," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a US academic and Catholic expert at Manhattan University in New York. QUICK CONCLAVE Heading into the conclave on Wednesday, two other cardinals were seen as leading frontrunners: Italian Pietro Parolin and Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle. Cardinals vote in conclaves once on the first day and four times on subsequent days. When white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at 6.08pm (1608 GMT) on Thursday, signalling the election of the new pope, many watching thought it must be either Parolin or Tagle. The timing of the smoke meant the new pope was probably elected on the fourth ballot of the conclave — a fast result. Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the 2013 conclave. In 1978, it took eight ballots to elect Pope John Paul II. Like Prevost, the Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla had not been seen as a frontrunner heading into the conclave that made him pontiff. PREPARED SPEECH One cardinal — who was not able to participate in this conclave because he is over the age of 80 — said that based on his experience in past conclaves, a consensus probably emerged on the third ballot that on the next round Prevost would reach the two-thirds majority required to win election. The third ballot would have been the second one held on Thursday morning, before the cardinals took a break for lunch. The retired cardinal, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the secretive process, suggested that Prevost may have taken time in the lunch break to choose his papal name and begin drafting his first address as leader of the Church. When Pope Leo appeared for the first time on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, about 70 minutes after his election, to greet tens of thousands in the square below, he spoke from a written text. None of the past four popes used a written text for their first address from the balcony. In 2013, Francis' first word was simply "Buonasera" (Good evening), and he spoke extemporaneously for just a few minutes. Asked by a reporter with Italy's Channel 4 two days before the conclave if he would be elected as pope, Prevost replied: "Everything is in the hands of the Holy Spirit." The reporter then mentioned how the cardinal had a range of experiences he could offer as pope — being born in the US, living in Peru, and knowing bishops around the globe because of his Vatican job. "All of this is true, yes," Prevost replied.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
What's in a name? Pope Leo XIV's choice signals a commitment to social justice
SCHIAVON: Pope Leo XIV 's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice that is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ' global ministry. 'I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV,' said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. 'It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XIII.' Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. The name 'is a deep sign of commitment to social issues," said Imperatori-Lee. 'I think this (new) pope is saying something about social justice, by choosing this name, that it is going to be a priority. He is continuing a lot of Francis' ministry.' Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that choice of the name Leo was a reference to Leo XIII and the social doctrine of the church, in particular the Rerum Novarum encyclical, considered the Catholic Church's first social encyclical. Another predecessor, Pope Leo I, was known for repelling the barbarian invasion of Attila the Hun in 452 A.D. and dissuading him from sacking Rome through diplomacy, Italian Cardinal Mauro Piacenza told RAI Italian state TV. He also noted that Pope Leo XIII elevated the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii to a papal basilica in 1901. Leo could also refer to Brother Leo, the 13th century friar who was a great companion of St. Francis of Assisi. By choosing such a name, the new pope could be signaling also a very strong continuity with Francis, who named himself after the saint. For most of the Catholic Church's first millennium, popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and chose the more appropriate name of John II. The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of 'a desire to signify continuity,' according to Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University. For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16. It was from the mid-20th century that new popes began to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.
Toronto Star
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
What's in a name? Pope Leo XIV's choice signals a commitment to social justice
SCHIAVON, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV 's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice that is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ' global ministry. 'I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV,' said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. 'It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XIII.'
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pope Leo XIV's name choice shows his commitment to social justice
Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum AP Schiavon (Italy) Pope Leo XIV's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice which is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ' global ministry. I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV, said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XXIII. Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He criticised both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. The name is a deep sign of commitment to social issues," said Imperatori-Lee. I think this (new) pope is saying something about social justice, by choosing this name, that it is going to be a priority. He is continuing a lot of Francis' ministry. Another predecessor, Pope Leo I, was known for repelling the barbarian invasion of Atilla the Hun in 452 AD and dissuading him from sacking Rome through diplomacy, Italian Cardinal Maurizio Piacenza told RAI Italian state TV. He also noted that Pope Leo XIII elevated the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii to a papal basilica in 1901. For most of the Catholic Church's first millennium, popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and chose the more appropriate name of John II. The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of a desire to signify continuity, according to Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University. For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16. It was from the mid-20th century that new popes begin to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.
The Mainichi
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
What's in a name? Pope Leo XIV's choice signals a commitment to social justice
SCHIAVON, Italy (AP) -- Pope Leo XIV 's choice of name signals a commitment to social justice that is very much in line with the late Pope Francis ' global ministry. "I think a lot us had a question mark when they elected an American, and then he selected the name Pope Leo XIV," said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University. "It really means to me he will continue the work of Leo XIII." Pope Leo XIII, who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. He criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching. The name "is a deep sign of commitment to social issues," said Imperatori-Lee. "I think this (new) pope is saying something about social justice, by choosing this name, that it is going to be a priority. He is continuing a lot of Francis' ministry." Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that choice of the name Leo was a reference to Leo XIII and the social doctrine of the church, in particular the Rerum Novarum encyclical, considered the Catholic Church's first social encyclical. Another predecessor, Pope Leo I, was known for repelling the barbarian invasion of Atilla the Hun in 452 A.D. and dissuading him from sacking Rome through diplomacy, Italian Cardinal Mauro Piacenza told RAI Italian state TV. He also noted that Pope Leo XIII elevated the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii to a papal basilica in 1901. Leo could also refer to Brother Leo, the 13th century friar who was a great companion of St. Francis of Assisi. By choosing such a name, the new pope could be signaling also a very strong continuity with Francis, who named himself after the saint. For most of the Catholic Church's first millennium, popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and chose the more appropriate name of John II. The practice of adopting a new name became ingrained during the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of "a desire to signify continuity," according to Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University. For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16. It was from the mid-20th century that new popes began to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said.
