The cardinal Robert Francis Prevost – Now known as Pope Leo XIV – He is the first Pope of the United States.
Born in Chicago, the 69 -year -old man is known as a leader with global experience.
He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and recently led an influential Vatican office for bishops nominations.
Below are some curiosities about the American Pope:
1. The ‘least American’ of the cardinals
Prevost was born in Chicago. But inside the Vatican, where he lived and worked, was considered The “least American” of US cardinals.
He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023.
He speaks Spanish and Italian fluently – which he demonstrated during his first public speech in St. Peter’s Square.
2. Respected by Pope Francis
The late Pope Francis “I respected him and had a very good opinion about him”, according to the correspondent of CNN In the Vatican, Christopher Lamb. “Clearly Pope Francis saw something in him,” he saw him as a capable leader. “
Lamb met the new Pope Leo XIV When he was a cardinal and said he found him “a very thoughtful person, a very restrained person.” Overall, he seemed discreet.
3. Member of the Agostinian Order
Pope Leo is a member of Augustinian religious order, that is spread all over the world. He led the order for over a decade as his general prior.
The new pontiff used his first words to say he is the son of St. Augustine and quoted the famous phrase of the saint: “For you, I’m a bishop; with you, after all, I’m a Christian.”
The idea is that all people in the hierarchy of the Church – from leaders to ordinary members – walk together.
4. Experience and leadership
Pope Francis appointed PREVOST as the head of the bishops, who is the body in charge of evaluating candidates for bishops and making recommendations for new appointments.
He also acted as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
“From a very young age, he was appointed to leadership positions” said Elise Allen, analyst at CNN in the Vatican. “He is seen as a calm and balanced, impartial and very clear about what he thinks he needs to be done … But he is not overly energetic when trying to make it happen.”
5. “Missionary Focus”
“I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like every Christian, is being a missionary, proclaiming the gospel wherever he is,” Predost said in an interview with Vatican News shortly after taking his leadership position in Rome.
He once said in an interview that his time in Peru was the life experience that shaped him the most.
“He is someone who, although from the West, would be very aware of the needs of a global church,” said Allen. “You’re talking about someone who has spent more than half of your ecclesiastical career abroad as a missionary in Peru.”
6. Peruvian citizen
Leo is a citizen of both the United States and Peru.
The United States born pontiff obtained Peruvian citizenship in August 2015, according to the National Migration Registry of the Andean.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte called her election from a “Historical moment for Peru and the world”.
7. Commitment to the poor
The last Pope to adopt the name Lion, Pope Leo XIII, He was a pope alongside the poor and defended the workers.
Leo XIII, who was Pope from 1878 to 1903, had a strong emphasis on workers’ rights and Catholic social doctrine – then the choice of this name for the new pontiff makes a strong statement.
8. “Centrist” Uniform
The perception is that the new Pope is aligned with Francisco’s ideas on the direction of a most inclusive global church, But he is expected to lead as an independent man.
It is also expected that Leo will lean more for progressiveness in social issues such as migration and poverty, But align yourself more with the moderates in moral issues of Catholic doctrine.
To get a majority of two -thirds at the Cardinian College, he would have to have had a wide appeal, even among more moderate or conservative members.
9. Mathematics training
Prevost obtained his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and then received his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
He was eventually sent to Rome to study canon law and, later in his career, taught canon law at the Seminary in Trujillo, Peru.
10. Tennis fan
“I consider myself a reasonable amateur tennis player,” Predost said in an interview with the Agostinian Order shortly after becoming Cardinal. “Since I left Peru, I had a few occasions to practice, so I’m looking forward to returning to the courts.”
He also said that in his free time he liked to read, walk and travel to “new and diverse places.”
*Christopher Lamb, Jimena de la Quintana, Abel Alvarado and Elise Hammond da CNN contributed to this report
This content was originally published in Papa Leo XIV: See 10 curiosities about Robert Prevost on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
