Cardinal Robert Prevost made his first public appearance as Pope on Thursday evening, moments after the traditional white smoke signalled that the conclave of cardinals had reached a decision.
He stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and greeted tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Peace be with you.” He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away recently. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV , is the first American in history to lead the Roman Catholic Church .
He addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish, emphasising peace and dialogue “without fear.” The 69-year-old said he was an Augustinian, a Christian and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”
Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost ?
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, Illinois, and ordained as a priest in 1982, according to New York Times. He has spent most of his adult life outside the United States.
A member of the Augustinian order, he earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and served for nearly 20 years in Peru, where he became a bishop and was later naturalised as a Peruvian citizen.
Prevost has held key roles in the Catholic Church’s global operations, including as head of the Vatican office that oversees the appointment and management of bishops. His experience ranges from missionary work in Peru to leading his religious order internationally. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently.
He stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and greeted tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Peace be with you.” He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away recently. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV , is the first American in history to lead the Roman Catholic Church .
He addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish, emphasising peace and dialogue “without fear.” The 69-year-old said he was an Augustinian, a Christian and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”
Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost ?
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, Illinois, and ordained as a priest in 1982, according to New York Times. He has spent most of his adult life outside the United States.
A member of the Augustinian order, he earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and served for nearly 20 years in Peru, where he became a bishop and was later naturalised as a Peruvian citizen.
Prevost has held key roles in the Catholic Church’s global operations, including as head of the Vatican office that oversees the appointment and management of bishops. His experience ranges from missionary work in Peru to leading his religious order internationally. He speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently.
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