FROM a budding maths genius within the US to an adventurous missionary in Peru – horse using Pope Leo XIV has now reached the best summit within the Catholic Church.
Historical past-maker Robert Prevost is the primary American Pope, and his unbelievable life has seen him climb from an altar boy to move of the Vatican.
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Often called Father Bob, Prevost was introduced as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after lower than 24 hours of voting within the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican.
The darkish horse beat odds of 66/1 to turn into God’s messenger on Earth earlier than being unveiled to crowds of the devoted in Rome.
However his life started 5,000 miles away in Chicago, Illinois, the place he was born on September 14, 1955.
He was born to immigrant mother and father of French, Italian and Spanish descent.
Prevost’s first spiritual gig noticed him work as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, simply outdoors the far South Facet of Chicago.
He accomplished his secondary research at St. Augustine Seminary Excessive Faculty in 1973 – the place he was persistently on the honour roll and was even given a Letter of Commendation for spectacular tutorial outcomes.
The whizz-kid then earned a level in arithmetic at Villanova College in 1977.
The Pope-to-be then joined the Order of St. Augustine, taking his vows in 1978.
He grew to become a priest in 1982, with footage exhibiting the newly-ordained Rev. Robert Prevost greeting Pope John Paul II shortly after.
The multi-talented Catholic Church head can converse English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese – and may even learn Latin and German.
After being ordained a priest, he joined a mission in Peru in 1985 the place he spent a few years heading up a seminary.
He returned to the US in 1999, however earlier than that had been a daily customer to function a pastor and a previous in his residence metropolis.
Regardless of being an American the brand new pontiff holds Peruvian nationality, and is a beloved determine within the nation attributable to his work with marginalised communities.
Prevost spent 10 years as an area parish pastor and as a trainer at a seminary in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.
Throughout his momentous first speech, Leo spoke fondly of his predecessor Francis.
He mentioned: “We nonetheless hear in our ears the weak however at all times brave voice of Pope Francis who blessed us.”
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Pope Francis made Prevost the Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru one 12 months after he grew to become Pope.
Prevost was identified for his high-profile position as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America – tasked with deciding on and supervising bishops.
He was made archbishop in 2023 and inside just a few months he was promoted to the cardinal by Francis.
The horseriding Pope is seen as extra conventional than Francis – however not the conservative hardliner some within the church have been hoping for after his predecessor’s efforts to make the religion extra progressive.
The brand new pontiff urged folks to “construct bridges by way of dialogue, by way of encounter, to return collectively as one folks, at all times in peace”.
He additionally spoke in Spanish, saying to his South American mates: “I’d notably wish to say whats up to my compatriots from Peru.
“It was a terrific pleasure for me to work in Peru.”
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US President Trump was fast to congratulate the Pope Leo XIV and mentioned it is “a terrific honour” for the US.
Sir Keir Starmer branded the election of the primary American Pope as a “momentous second” and mentioned that he seems “ahead to assembly the Holy Father and persevering with to work intently with the Catholic Church”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the brand new Pope.
He mentioned: “Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s constant place in upholding worldwide law, condemning the Russian Federation’s army aggression towards Ukraine, and defending the rights of harmless civilians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned he hoped the American pontiff would have interaction in “constructive dialogue” with the Kremlin.
The brand new Pope’s speech in full
Right here is Leo XIV’s speech from the Vatican balcony in full:
Peace be with all of you
Expensive brothers and sisters, that is the primary greeting of Christ resurrected, the nice pastor who gave life for the Lord and I’d additionally like this greeting of peace to return into your hearts and be a part of everybody, whoever they’re, all peoples on the entire earth, peace be with you.
That is the peace of Christ resurrected, it’s a peace that’s disarming, humble and also will persevere and it comes from God, God who loves all of us unconditionally.
And allow us to preserve listening to even the weak voices and Pope Francis was at all times brave and blessed Rome.
The pope that blessed Rome, he’s blessing the entire world on that Easter morning. So allow us to observe up that blessing.
God loves us, God loves all of you, sin is not going to prevail, we’re all within the palms of God.
And on the identical time with out worry, allow us to be reunited hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves let’s transfer ahead as a result of we’re the disciples of Christ, Christ preceded us, the world wants your mild, humanity wants him as a bridge so as to have the ability to get to God and attain God’s love.
You should additionally assist us and assist each other. And all of us should be a single peoples.
I’d additionally wish to thank all my brother cardinals who’ve chosen me to be the successor to Peter and to stroll along with you as a united church at all times looking for peace, justice and at all times making an attempt to work as women and men devoted to Jesus Christ with out worry and likewise to be missionaries.
I’m a son of St Augustin, I’m Christian with you and to that extent we are able to all stroll collectively in direction of that land that God has ready us for.
To the church of Rome, I wish to provide you with a speciial greeting. Collectively we should attempt to learn how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, that’s at all times open to obtain on this piazza with open arms to anybody that wants our charity, our presents, dialogue and love.
And I’d similar to additionally t osay one thing in Spanish. I notably wish to say whats up to my compatriots in Peru
To all of you, brothers and sisters, of Rome, the entire world, we should be a church that walks a path of peace, that at all times seems for charity, that’s at all times trying to be shut particularly to people who are struggling
In the present day, the day wherein we pray to the Madonna of Pompeii, our mom Mary at all times desires to remain near us and assist us together with her love and her intercession.
Allow us to pray collectively, this new mission, for the entire church, and for peace all through the world.
And let’s ask for this particular grace for Mary, our mom. Hail Mary
The brand new Pope, who’s lively on social media, has repeatedly voiced his considerations over Donald Trump‘s immigration insurance policies and shared his progressive views.
Each Leo and Francis have been mentioned to be shut and Prevost was thought of by Vatican insiders to be a possible kingmaker for the present election.
However few thought of the brand new Leo XIV the seemingly winner of the key vote.
The final pope to take the title Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903.
White smoke erupted from the Vatican at round 6pm Italian time on Might 8 as a sign that the brand new pontiff had been chosen.
The Pope greeted the world for the primary time on the balcony within the iconic St Peter’s Basilica overlooking St Peter’s Sq..
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The announcement of the brand new pope was made after clouds of white smoke or fumata bianca emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel as a bell rang.
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