Who’s Robert Prevost, the brand new Pope Leo XIV and first American pope?

Even earlier than his title was introduced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the crowds under had been chanting “Viva il Papa” – Lengthy reside the Pope.

Robert Francis Prevost, 69, would be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and he will likely be often called Leo XIV.

He’s the primary American to fill the function of pope, though he’s thought-about as a lot a cardinal from Latin America due to the numerous years he spent as a missionary in Peru.

Born in Chicago in 1955 to oldsters of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained in 1982.

Though he moved to Peru three years later, he returned often to the US to function a pastor and a previous in his dwelling metropolis.

He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a determine who labored with marginalised communities and helped construct bridges.

He spent 10 years as an area parish pastor and as a instructor at a seminary in Trujillo in north-western Peru.

In his first phrases as Pope, Leo XIV spoke fondly of his predecessor Francis.

“We nonetheless hear in our ears the weak however all the time brave voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he mentioned.

“United and hand in hand with God, allow us to advance collectively,” he informed cheering crowds.

The Pope additionally spoke of his function within the Augustinian Order.

In 2014, Francis made him Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru.

He’s well-known to cardinals due to his high-profile function as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America which has the necessary process of choosing and supervising bishops.

He turned archbishop in January 2023 and inside a number of months Francis made him a cardinal.

Early consideration will give attention to Leo XIV’s pronouncements to see whether or not he’ll proceed his predecessor’s reforms within the Roman Catholic Church.

Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the surroundings.

A former roommate of his, Reverend John Lydon, described Prevost to the BBC as “outgoing”, “right down to earth” and “very involved with the poor”.

On his private background, Prevost informed Italian community Rai earlier than his election that he grew up in a household of immigrants.

“I used to be born in the US… However my grandparents had been all immigrants, French, Spanish… I used to be raised in a really Catholic household, each of my dad and mom had been very engaged within the parish,” he mentioned.

Though Prevost was born within the US, the Vatican described him because the second pope from the Americas (Francis was from Argentina).

In latest months, he seems to have challenged the views of US Vice-President JD Vance.

A social media account in his title reposted a social media put up on X that was vital of the Trump administration’s deportation of a US resident to El Salvador, and it shared a vital remark piece written a few TV interview given by Vance to Fox Information.

“JD Vance is flawed: Jesus would not ask us to rank our love for others,” learn the put up, repeating the headline from the commentary on the Nationwide Catholic Reporter web site.

The BBC requested the Vatican to verify the account was his, however has not acquired a response.

Throughout his time in Peru, Prevost was unable to flee the sexual abuse scandals which have clouded the Church, although his diocese has fervently denied he has been concerned in any tried cover-up.

In selecting the title Leo, Prevost has signified a dedication to dynamic social points, in accordance with specialists.

The primary pontiff to make use of the title Leo, whose papacy led to 461, met Attila the Hun and persuaded him to not assault Rome. The final Pope Leo led the Church from 1878 to 1903 and wrote an influential treatise on staff’ rights.

Former Archbishop of Boston Seán Patrick O’Malley wrote on his weblog that the brand new pontiff “has chosen a reputation extensively related to the social justice legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who was pontiff at a time of epic upheaval on the planet, the time of the economic revolution, the start of Marxism, and widespread immigration”.

The brand new Pope’s LGBT views are unclear, however some teams, together with the conservative School of Cardinals, imagine he could also be much less supportive than Francis.

Leo XIV has proven assist for a declaration from Francis to allow blessings for same-sex {couples} and others in “irregular conditions”, though he has added that bishops should interpret such directives in accordance with native contexts and cultures.

Talking final 12 months about local weather change, Cardinal Prevost mentioned that it was time to maneuver “from phrases to motion”.

He referred to as on mankind to construct a “relationship of reciprocity” with the surroundings.

And he has spoken about concrete measures on the Vatican, together with the set up of photo voltaic panels and the adoption of electrical autos.

Pope Leo XIV has supported Pope Francis’ resolution to permit ladies to affix the Dicastery for Bishops for the primary time.

“On a number of events we’ve seen that their perspective is an enrichment,” he informed Vatican Information in 2023.

In 2024, he informed the Catholic Information Service that ladies’s presence “contributes considerably to the method of discernment in on the lookout for who we hope are one of the best candidates to serve the Church in episcopal ministry”.