Leo XIV. The Pope ‘Builder of Bridges’

It was a few minutes from 5 pm on Thursday, when white smoke came out of the sistine chapel chimney made the election of the new Pope. The ‘smoke’ left the thousands of people present in St. Peter’s Square in Rome in ecstasy. The official announcement was then made by Cardinal Protodiácono Dominique Mamberti, who proclaimed the traditional ‘Habemus Papam!’ From the Basilica of St. Peter’s Basilica, revealing the name of the new Pontiff: Robert Francis Prevost.

Born in Chicago, United States, 69 -year -old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became known as the “Pastor of Dois Patrias” for his long mission in Peru, where he became a naturalized bishop and citizen. Before he was appointed, he held the position of mayor of the Dicastery for the Bishops, where he actively participated in the appointment of bishops around the world.

At first glance, an American pope is not always the most obvious bet-Prevost will be the first in history-but his close relationship with Pope Francis and the central role in the administration of the previous Pontiff has positioned him on the Pope’s favorite list, according to some experts. As told by Vatican Marco Poli to The New Yorktimes, even before the election, « if he wasn’t American, he was automatically a pontifical (possible pope candidate) for sure. »

A Pope who wants peace and dialogue

Polyglot, moderate, reserved and ‘bridge builder’-a crucial attribute for leading a divided church-the new Pontiff approaches Francis on some fracturing topics such as emigration, poverty and the environment. Father Michele Falcone, 46, a priest of the Order of St. Augustine (previously led by Prevost), described his mentor and friend as the « dignified middle ground. »

In his first speech as Pope, Leo XIV remembered his predecessor: “We still keep in our ears that fragile but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome and the world that Easter morning. Allow me to follow this same blessing.

However, in other themes, Leo XIV distances itself from Francis’ progressism. In a 2012 speech, Prevost lamented that Western press and popular culture foment « sympathy for beliefs and practices that are in disagreement with the gospel » and cited the « homosexual lifestyle » and « alternative families composed of same -sex partners and their adoptive children. »

Another stone in the new Pope’s shoe is the alleged accusations of covering cases of sexual abuse in the church. A woman from Chiclayo in Peru said she was sexually abused by two priests. Long before Prevost was a bishop, and accused him of conducting the investigation badly and not preventing one of the priests of continuing to celebrate masses.

Leo XIV: What does the chosen name tell us?

The choice of the Pope’s name is the first sign of what we can expect from the next papacy. The centenary tradition of choosing a new name is a tribute to previous pope legacies, the saints of the Church, or the apostles of Jesus Christ.

From now on, Robert Francis Prevost will be known as Leo XIV, a name chosen by himself. The name “Leo” was chosen by more than a dozen popes, especially in reference to St. Leo Great, the first Pope to adopt this name and known for being a man of doctrine, who knew how to harmonize the West with the East.

Before Predost, was Gioacchino Pecci, in 1878, the last to select the name Lion as a mark of a papacy that ended July 20, 1903. Leo XIII was an innovative pope for his time, which always tried to reconcile the tradition of the church with the challenges of the modern world. During his 25 years of papacy, he became known as the « workers’ pope. » And in 1981, he published the Encyclical Rerum Novarum, considered the inaugural framework of the social doctrine of the Church.

A legacy that the new Pope seems to want to continue, even for the words used in his inaugural speech as a high pontiff: « We must seek together as a missionary church, which builds dialogue, always open to receive, like this square, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love, » he said, remembered the latest words, one day before of your death. « The world needs bridges with dialogue, encounter, uniting us all to be a people in peace. »