Latest news with #PapalElection
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Leadership Congratulates Pope Leo XIV on Election as Pope
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have sent two cables of congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as Pope of the Vatican. He was elected on May 8 after the late Pope Francis died on April 21.
Zawya
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
President Boakai Congratulates Pope Leo XIV As 'The 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church'
The President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has extended heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Boakai said this momentous occasion marks a profound chapter not only for the over one billion members of the Catholic Church but also for the global community that looks to the Holy See for moral leadership, compassion, and unity. President Boakai stated that Pope Leo XIV election comes at a time when the church, and indeed the world face complex social, spiritual, and economic challenges. 'The weight of this sacred office is immense, yet I am confident that your deep intercultural background, unwavering commitment to service, and embodiment of humility and faith will guide you with wisdom and strength, Your Holiness, the role you now undertake extends beyond the Catholic faith', President Boakai said. The Liberian leader said in an increasingly interconnected world, Pope Leo XIV voice will serve as a bridge builder among faiths and peoples, stating that the promotion of interfaith dialogue and mutual respect among all religions, and those of no faith is vital to achieving lasting peace and harmony. 'I am especially hopeful that your papacy will bring renewed focus to the development and inclusion of young people from all backgrounds, nurturing in them the values of peace, empathy, and shared responsibility. In doing so, we can foster a future generation better equipped to navigate diversity and resolve conflict before it escalates', President Boakai stated. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
From Vatican to West Texas: Abilene Catholics celebrate the new pope
ABILENE, Texas () – People of the Catholic faith have been rejoicing all week because of the announcement of the 267th pope, Leo XIV. KTAB/KRBC spoke with Catholics in Abilene about this announcement. Here in Abilene, Catholics celebrated the news as Taylor County Expo Center General Manager Rochelle Johnson shared her thoughts about the new pope. 'Well, I was in tears yesterday. It's very exciting that a new pope has been elected and that he's from the United States,' Johnson said. Johnson was also in Rome during Pope Francis's final days and heard his final speech before his death. Yesterday, May 8, she was surprised by the white smoke. 'I'm hoping that this will be somebody that really unites the Catholic church across the world. Because you know, there were everywhere, Catholic means universal, and so I hope that this pope will be a leader of this church with the teachings of Jesus Christ,' Johnson said. Meanwhile, members of the church, Holy Family Catholic Church on Buffalo Gap Road, joined the celebration. The Holy Family Catholic Church Director of Religious Education, Dr. Bob Moore, shared his insight on the new Pope. 'I think he's going to fit in really well within our diocese, because we obviously have many people coming in from other countries, and I think it'll be really good as we talk about how we can be more welcoming,' Moore said. Moore and Johnson also spoke about the new pope's stances on immigration, similar to Pope Francis. 'I think he's going to do everything he can for those that are seeking to come into this country, that's been a long history. And that's been his charisma, that's been what he's known for,' Moore said. 'I'm in favor of immigration as long as it's done legally. And that's as the church teaches,' Johnson said. Abilene Catholics expressed their hopes of seeing the pope, either in Abilene or somewhere else in Texas. They shared their thoughts on the possibility. 'Wouldn't that be wonderful if he would come to our diocese?' Johnson said. 'It'll be a special time for Abilene,' said Moore. The local diocese and others across Texas remain hopeful about what Leo XIV could bring to the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV's name gives clue to how he'll handle social, political divides, bishop says
American author, speaker and theologian Bishop Robert Barron was at the Vatican this week to witness the election of a new pope, and he shared his thoughts with Fox News Digital about Cardinal Robert Prevost's "intriguing" new papal name. Papal names are often very symbolic with regard to how a Pope will serve as the leader of the Catholic Church. Typically, Pope's select the names of predecessors they admire or want to emulate. Prevost ultimately went with Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903. "He could have been Francis II, and we would have said, 'Oh, there he is clearly in the line of Francis.' He could have been John Paul III, then we would have thought, 'Oh, he's very much in that more conservative line.' He could have been John XXIV, and we say 'Oh, now he's a real revolutionary liberal, et cetera,'" Barron said. "The fact that he went back, well over 100 years, to this very interesting and pivotal figure … our new pope was saying, I too, want a critical engagement with the modern world, not simply a 'no,' but also not simply a 'yes,' not simply an acquiescence to it." Cardinal Dolan Describes Pope Xiv As 'Citizen Of The World,' Will Build Bridges With Trump Barron pointed out that Leo XIII was a pivotal figure due to the timing of his reign, which came during a moment when the Church was contending with the tremendous political and philosophical upheavals of the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the French and American Revolutions, and the introduction of philosophies such as Marxism. "The church's first reaction [to these changes] was very negative. It was a great 'no' to modernity. By the end of the 19th century, I think, with a certain distance and a certain critical intelligence, the church was willing to enter into a more, call it, creative engagement with modernity. And I think Pope Leo the 13th represents precisely that," Barron said. Read On The Fox News App The bishop pointed to the Rerum Novarum to further his point, an encyclical letter issued by Pope Leo XII in 1891. Bears Star Caleb Williams Issues Two-worded Reaction To Pope Leo Xiv's Election "In that document, [Leo XII] is a fierce opponent of Marxism, a fierce opponent of socialism and communism, a great defender of private property and of the market economy," Barron said. "So you say, 'Okay, there's that great 'no' to the left-wing economic revolutions.' At the same time, in that same letter, [Leo XII] comes out strongly in favor of the right to form unions. He comes out very strongly in favor of what we call the universal destination of goods." "In fact, Pope Leo says in that letter, once the requirements of necessity and propriety have been met in your life, the rest of what you own belongs to the poor," Barron continued. "That's not a just a standard, boring, mainstream point of view. That's a pretty revolutionary statement. But notice the lovely balance in that letter between 'yes' to private property, the great 'no' to socialism and Marxism, but the great 'yes' to the universal destination of goods. Leo sets the tone thereby for the rest of Catholic social teaching that followed him." In conclusion, Barron said he thinks Prevost's selection of Leo XIV makes the new pope "a very interesting player" in terms of the debate between the Right and the Left in politics. "[Leo XVI] doesn't fit – and I've said this 1,000 times – he and other great representatives of Catholic social teaching don't fit into our categories of left and right," Barron said. "They don't fit into Democrat-Republican, they're in a space beyond those distinctions. So, I think that's what's perhaps most interesting about him."Original article source: Pope Leo XIV's name gives clue to how he'll handle social, political divides, bishop says
The Guardian
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘An inspired choice': people from around the world react to Pope Leo XIV
Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the first pope from the US and is the new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. Taking the name Leo XIV, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar, spent more than 20 years as a missionary in Peru. Having held senior roles in the Vatican, he is seen as a moderate who people hope will continue the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Here, people from around the world share their views on the new pope and their hopes for his papacy. It couldn't be a better choice. As someone who is from Ecuador and used to live in Peru for several years, I'm happy that the new pope has strong ties with Latin America and Peru, specifically, which is a country that I love dearly and still miss. I was concerned that some extremist from the right or traditionalist could be chosen. I feel relieved that that didn't happen. Whether people are Catholic or not, the pope's influence is real – it's a force for change. I'm happy that someone could even further the reforms that Pope Francis started; the church needs to keep getting closer to reality and help pushing for equality. Carol, 55, homemaker, US I am so excited that Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope! I met with him in October 2023 at a dinner party with his friends from Villanova [University]. I was nervous to speak with him, but being from Chicago I decided I would approach him. He was the friendliest priest I had ever met, conscientious and told us to call him Father Bob. I am still shaking knowing I shook hands and had dinner with him. He will be a wonderful pope. Jan, Pennsylvania, US Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis with this spirit of openness towards all peoples. At a time when some want to build walls, he is a good reminder that man must instead build bridges between men so that peace among peoples may prevail. Br Yohann, 52, Christian hermit, French Pyrenees Since Trump's election I've been in a pretty big funk. I used to be a hardcore Catholic but I have a gay son and now consider myself to have 'semi fallen away'. Seeing Pope Leo XIV's open, warm and very moved face for the first time I got so emotional and prayed along as I listened on the radio. My mom was born right outside of Chicago in Elgin, and I know she's cheering up in heaven. I loved Pope Francis – his humility and love for the poorest and most marginalized. I was very concerned that the new pontiff would be along the lines of Pope Benedict. What I have glimpsed is hope not only for Catholics but for the world. Mary Lee, Minnesota, US I'm evangelical, so I see the pope as a head of state, first of all, and only afterwards a spiritual leader. Being blind, I'm not influenced by a person's appearance, but I rely a lot on the tone of voice. Pope Leo conveyed a sense of firmness, gentleness and, above all, honesty. I felt an immediate bond with him. Olga, Italy I immediately looked up Leo XIII, as popes choose names very cannily, and I was pleased to be reminded he gave us Rerum Novarum, a quite significant encyclical which was part of his attempt to push the church into the modern world. That he is American but also Peruvian, and Chicagoan? He's Paddington Bear with a Chicago-style hotdog rather than a marmalade sandwich. I'm not a practicing Catholic now but with this choice the movement slowly forward will continue. Samadhi, US I think he is an inspired choice but he is most definitely not the first American pope – Pope Francis has that honour. Pope Leo is certainly the first North American pope and the first from the US, but that country cannot define all of us who live in the rest of the Americas. Lynda Mair, 70, attorney, Kingston, Jamaica As a gay man and atheist living in Brazil, I found myself strangely drowned and concerned by the election of a new pope. Prevost's election is undeniably symbolic. His familiarity with Latin America's struggles, such as poverty, corruption, violence against LGBTQ+ people, could position him as a pragmatic leader. From where I stand, an American pope inevitably sparks concerns about a likelihood of a cultural imperialism. The US already wields outsized geopolitical influence, and a pontiff from Chicago risks perceptions of aligning with western agendas. However, Prevost's dual Peruvian citizenship and focus on global issues like climate change might mitigate this. For Brazil's LGBTQ+ community, which navigates both local homophobia and global solidarity movements, his leadership could either amplify marginalised voices or reinforce Eurocentric priorities. For now, cautious optimism feels like the only rational response. Diego Onorio, 38, English teacher, Brazil I'm Jewish but know how influential the pope can be, not only with his coreligionists but in general. And learning that he's similar to Francis in leaning liberal and being critical of Trump is a good sign. Vincent, Los Angeles, US He was always among the second tier of papabile [candidates favoured to be pope] and so in that sense was not a complete surprise. But still, the reality of an American pope took some time to sink in. I suspect the cardinals decided they wanted someone who can communicate effectively on a global basis. Leo XIV speaks numerous languages very well, has lived in South America for many years. The fact he is a native English speaker will be a big asset for the church at this time of political turmoil and rising tensions. He appears pretty orthodox on most issues, which I think makes him a pragmatic compromise candidate who can build bridges inside and outside the church. Like many Catholics, at times I found Francis's pontificate a confusing and unpredictable one. Sometimes that was refreshing; sometimes it caused problems inside the church. I hope Leo XIV provides clarity and stability. Anonymous, 43, works in the media industry, Hertfordshire Happy to see a moderate succeed our departed pope. While some of his views are more in line with the older traditions of the church his desire to confront climate change and fight for refugees is good news! I hope he has chosen the name Leo remembering that Pope Leo rode out to meet an invading force and stopped them at the gate. Lewis, Australia I already felt love in my heart upon seeing his face appear on the balcony. The power of his emotions so vividly in his eyes and face. His humility, spirit of service and commitment to those not in the centre very visible. Leo XIV has already stated the most crucial issue: building bridges, world peace, opening ourselves to welcoming all people, ie let us finally as a species embody our shared humanity. Ryūmon H Baldoquín, Zen Buddhist priest, 72 Portugal Throughout the conclave, I'd been really hoping for Cardinal Tagle and mostly focused on the 'favourites', so when his name was read out I was genuinely bewildered. I do have concerns: specifically as to his record on handling sex abuse cases, women's roles in the church and culture war issues like LGBTQ+ rights. But there are also points for excitement. What drew so many people my age to Pope Francis was his pastoral approach and his rejection of consumerism, and it's encouraging that the new pope, as an Augustinian, has also taken a vow of poverty. It feels poignant in a world where, as a young person constantly exposed to advertising and consumer culture on social media, it's easy to feel disillusioned. I'd like to see an affirmation of fiducia supplicans [the declaration that allows priests to bless same-sex couples] because I feel like it's been watered down. But I also think it's wise not to alienate conservatives too much. I think most people are ambivalent to Latin mass, and if some people enjoy it then it should be up to their local parish. To be honest, if a pope who had been known mainly for hardline conservatism was elected, I'd be reluctantly considering leaving the church. But for now, I'm carefully hopeful. Ella, 22, law student, Oxford I can't recall ever in the last 40 years feeling this type of excitement for a new pope. I was on my way to work and as Pope Leo XIV walked out I got emotional and began to cry. I'm not a devout Catholic, I'm not religious but I was so deeply moved and I felt love and hope at that moment. I truly believe that God can do wonders through men. Men who possess an open heart and an open mind, men who show compassion and kindness towards others and who want nothing but the best for all humanity. If only all the world leaders possessed such qualities. Christian, Los Angeles, US
