VATICAN NEWS/Pope Leo XIV
The white smoke billowed softly from the chimney atop Rome's Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, accepted the mantle of St. Peter, the Catholic church’s first leader.
“Upon this rock I will build my church,” the Bible states Jesus said when he appointed Peter Simon to lead the church more than 2,000 years ago.
A son of the Augustinian Order, which lives through the spirituality of Jesus Christ professing unity, truth and charity for all, stepped onto the balcony of the Vatican taking the name Leo XIV as thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square cheered. His prior ministry was as the Bishop of Peru and will now serve as the 267th Bishop of Rome.
The selection of an American is extraordinary, and Pope Leo XIV is expected to lead 1.4 billion Catholics in the manner of his predecessors, Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII.
Pope Leo was elected with a two-thirds majority of 133 cardinals from around the world who united following Francis’ death to participate in the conclave. They closed the doors Wednesday, and it took just three ballots to elect him.
Pope Leo addressed the crowd appealing for peace in the world and asking Catholics to build bridges to Christ.
“Evil will not prevail,” he said.
According to Vatican News, he was born on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.
