Latest news with #StPeterSquare
The Standard
21 hours ago
- General
- The Standard
Leo, the first US pope, criticises nationalist politics at Sunday Mass
Pope Leo XIV leads the mass for the Jubilee of the Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities, in St. Peter square at the Vatican, June 8, 2025. (Reuters)
The Independent
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘No more war,' Pope Leo pleads to world in first Sunday address at the Vatican
Pope Leo XIV has appealed to world leaders to pursue peace, and not war, in his first Sunday address to crowds in St. Peter's Square. The new pope, formally cardinal Robert Prevost, called for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all Israeli hostages. The Chicago-born pontiff also welcomed fragile ceasefire agreement signed by India and Pakistan on Saturday. "No more war," the pope said, delivering his speech in Italian. Wearing a simple white cassock of the papacy and his silver pectoral cross, he repeated a frequent call of the late Pope Francis and noted the recent 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Pope Leo said today's world was living through "the dramatic scenario of a Third World War being fought piecemeal", again repeating a phrase coined by his predecessor. Nearly 100,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square and on the Via della Conciliazione leading to the Vatican to hear the new pontiff's first Sunday address. They broke into applause at the call for peace on what was a joyous occasion despite his solemn message. It was the first time that Leo had returned to the loggia since he first appeared to the world on Thursday evening following his election as pope, the first from the United States. The new pope said he carried in his heart the "suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine', and he appealed for negotiations to reach an "authentic, just and lasting peace". Leo also said he was "profoundly saddened" by the war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid and the release of the remaining hostages held by the Hamas militant group in the besieged strip. He added, however: "There are so many other conflicts in the world." Leo also noted that Sunday was Mother's Day in many countries and wished all mothers, 'including those in heaven', a Happy Mother's Day. The crowd, filled with marching bands in town for a special Jubilee weekend, erupted in cheers and music as the bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled. On Saturday evening, the pope made his first trip outside the Vatican to visit a Catholic shrine and pay respects at the tomb of his predecessor Francis. At the end of the visit there, the pope told those in the shrine that he wanted to come to pray for guidance in the first days of his papacy, according to a Vatican statement. The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday following the death of Francis on 21 April.
Wall Street Journal
08-05-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Leo XIV's Road From Chicago to Rome
White smoke. The cardinals moved quickly, after only four or five ballots. Is that a good sign? But the smoke is white, and people came running, and the crowd in St. Peter's Square burst into sustained cheers, with chanting and then laughing, and the huge ancient bells began to ring. On the Vatican feed the camera panned the crowd and you could see the flags of all the different countries, and get a sense the whole world was coming, and in spite of myself I felt moved and hopeful because you never know in life, it renews itself, surprising things happen. The crowd was dominated by young people wanting something to follow, something to love. If that isn't moving—the old church trying to renew itself—then nothing is moving. 'Oh let it be a great man,' I thought, so many thought. 'Let him cheer the world up.'
CBS News
08-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Boston Catholics and archbishop welcome news of American-born Pope Leo XIV
Catholics in Boston said they were shocked yet proud that an American was chosen to be pope but the Archbishop of Boston said he anticipates a smooth transition as Pope Leo XIV assumes his role. "There was a lot of buzz inside, so starting to set things up and prepare and getting the bells ready," said Boston resident John Hickey. First American-born pope The yellow bunting and drapes over the front doors of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston are celebrating Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American-born pontiff to lead the Catholic Church who will now go as Pope Leo XIV. "I'm just astonished that actually they've chosen an American pope, I wasn't expecting this at all. It's really unbelievable," said Boston resident Stacey Cannon. While he was born in Chicago, his missionary work with the poor in Peru is what made him a frontrunner. It's a quality that stuck out to Bostonians who are just learning about him. "Being from America, this is definitely a special place so therefore he has some good insight, different points of views," said Boston parishioner Steven Morris. The pope appeared on a balcony Thursday evening, where he greeted the faithful in St. Peter's Square. John Guinan, the dean of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, traveled from Massachusetts to Vatican City and ended up witnessing history. "It's an incredibly exciting moment. Like I said, people just pouring into St. Peter's Square," said Guinan. "It's just been cheering, joy. And it seems like people are pretty overwhelmed." At Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, one student told WBZ-TV they watched the livestream from St. Peter's Square in theology class. Boston Catholics hopeful for new pope Here in Boston, some Catholics said they're hopeful he continues the legacy of Pope Francis. "I'm looking forward to seeing how he picks up the responsibility and delivers it to his flock," said Boston parishioner Tom Murphy. "I am most hoping that the humility and the kindness and the generosity of the former pope is also involved in this new pope," said Cannon. "My whole life they said there could never be an American people because it would combine too much power," Boston College Moral Theology Professor Stephen Pope told WBZ-TV. And while we don't know what goes on in the conclave, Pope gives us some insight as to what the cardinals were looking for in a leader. "I think with these bishops, geography didn't matter as much as the traits of someone who could take the role of the Pope," he said. Archbishop of Boston welcomes news "I think shock is probably too strong a word. I think his remarks made it clear that he honors and reveres Pope Francis and Pope Francis' style of ministry, so that was a beautiful thing," said Archbishop of Boston Richard Henning. "Every generation has to address the needs of its moment and one of the key needs of our moment is ongoing healing." While Henning said he's never met the new pope, Father Mark Francis has. He was classmates with Leo XIV at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The two also worked together in Rome in the 2000s. "He is not a showboat," said Francis. "He is very calm but extremely intelligent and extremely compassionate."
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
First American Pope Named: Prevost Will Lead As Pope Leo XIV (Live Updates)
Robert Francis Prevost will lead the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first pope to hail from the United States. Prevost received the necessary two-thirds majority vote to be elected pope, which likely occurred on the fourth ballot, following two failed ballets Thursday morning and one failed ballot Wednesday. Bells tolled as the white smoke poured out from the Sistine Chapel, where thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square and chanted, 'Long live the pope!' Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced Prevost—who took the papal name Leo XIV—as pope on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening, about an hour after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel. When Leo XIV came out on the balcony to address the world for the first time as pope, he said, 'peace be with you all,' and called for people to go forward 'without fear,' saying: 'God loves everyone; evil will not prevail,' according to a translation by The Washington Post. President Donald Trump weighed in on the selection, posting his congratulations to Leo XIV on Truth Social, adding: 'It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!' Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, who is 91 and above the age cutoff of 80 to participate in the conclave, previously told Italian news outlets he had hoped to see white smoke by Thursday evening. After voting, the ballots were burned, and chemicals were added to produce either black smoke—indicating no pope has been elected—or white smoke—meaning a pope was been chosen—from the Sistine Chapel. Vatican watchers gathered to watch what color the smoke was after every vote. There was no clear frontrunner to win the papacy, Vatican experts said, though some of the cardinals who were considered to be prime candidates included Italy's Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who is considered more moderate than Francis, and the Philippines' Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, who draws comparisons to Francis for his liberal-leaning stances and his championing of the poor. Parolin and Tagle were the two leading contenders on various betting sites, including Polymarket and Kalshi, as bettors waged millions on the papal election. Other cardinals who were considered possible candidates included several from Italy— Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Matteo Zuppi—as well as Congo's Fridolin Ambongo, Hungary's Peter Erdo, Ghana's Peter Turkson and France's Jean-Marc Aveline. Papal experts said the conclave could determine whether the Catholic Church continues down the path laid by Francis to become more progressive, or whether a more conservative successor could be chosen and potentially roll back some of Francis' reforms. Francis was notable, and divisive, for his stances striking a more welcoming tone toward LGBTQ+ Catholics and women in church leadership roles, which won some global praise but angered conservative critics. Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden said some cardinals wanted to elect a successor 'who can follow in the footsteps of Francis. Some others said, 'No, no. Not at all,'' The New York Times reported, while Italian conservative Cardinal Camillo Ruini said there was a 'need to return the church to Catholics.' Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, said in a homily Wednesday the new pope would face a 'difficult and complex turning point in history,' stating he prayed for a pope who leads 'for the good of the church and of humanity.' While secluded from the outside world, cardinals under the age of 80 cast four votes each day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The process began Wednesday afternoon with mass at St. Peter's Basilica, after which cardinals proceeded to the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave. On days no successor was chosen, cardinals spent the night in Vatican guesthouses to resume voting the next day. Each cardinal was assigned a desk affixed with papers that say, 'Eligo in summum pontificem,' or, 'I choose as supreme pontiff.' Some cardinals watched the movie 'Conclave,' the papal drama that won an Oscar just two months ago, while prepping for the real thing, Politico reported, citing a cleric involved in the conclave who said some cardinals found the film 'remarkably accurate.' Viewership of 'Conclave' spiked 283% within a day of Francis's death, according to Luminate. Wednesday's vote took longer than most experts had predicted, as the first release of smoke took an hour longer than the first black smoke in 2013 during the conclave that elected Pope Francis. Mathew Schmalz, editor of the Journal of Global Catholicism and College of the Holy Cross religious studies professor, told BBC News the lengthy wait for the first release of smoke may have been because of the large number of cardinals from around the world meeting one another for the first time, speculating the conclave could take one day longer than usual. Though it's unclear why Wednesday's vote took so long, Schmalz told the BBC he is 'getting kind of nervous' about whether the conclave may have run into issues that will need to be smoothed out in the coming days. The conclave of 133 electors is the largest and most globally diverse in history, greater than the 115 electors that participated in the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, which may also cause a longer time for the vote. Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, following a bout of health issues, which led to his longest hospital stay while pope. Francis was hospitalized earlier this year for bilateral pneumonia and bronchitis, and Vatican doctors said he died of cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure. These Cardinals Are The Top Candidates To Succeed Pope Francis (Forbes) The Church Is More Global Than Ever. What Does That Mean for the Next Pope? (New York Times)
