Lion XIV from Chicago and Peru – who is the new pope
Robert Purvation, the choice of Catholic cardinals around the world to serve as a leader of the Catholic Church with 1.4 billion members, is the first pope in the United States and a relatively unknown on the world stage.
At 69 and a native of Chicago, he spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and It became a cardinal only in 2023. He gave a little interview with the media.
He accepts the papal name Leo XIV and inherits Francis I, who has led the church since 2013.
Reverend Mark Francis, a friend of the 1970s, told Reuters that the Cardinal was a firm supporter of the papacy of his predecessor, and especially of the late Pope’s commitment to social justice issues.
« He has always been friendly and warm, and remained a voice of common sense and practical concerns about the church that helps the poor, » said Francis, who visited the seminary with transmission and later knew it when they both lived in Rome at the beginning of the century.
« He has an ironic sense of humor, but he is not a man who is looking for the spotlight, » adds Francis, who leads the American province of the Viatorian Religious Order.
The transth initially served as a bishop in Chiclao, in the northwestern Peru (2015-2023) and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015, so he has dual citizenship.
Pope Francis brought him to Rome in the same year to head the Vatican office responsible for the choice of priests to serve as Catholic bishops around the world. Which means he has participated in the choice of many bishops around the world.
Jesus Leon Angellas, the Catholic Group Coordinator in Chiclao, who knows the 2018 transition from 2018, called him a « very simple » person who would do everything possible to help others.
Leon Angellas said that the transth had shown a special concern for Venezuelan migrants in Peru, saying, « He is a man who loves to help. » More than 1.5 million Venezuela have moved to Peru in recent years, partly to escape from the economic crisis in their country.
In an interview of 2023 about the Vatican Information Channel, the transth focused on the importance of evangelization to help the church grow.
« We are often busy teaching the doctrine … But we run the risk of forgetting that our first task is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ, » he said.
Transibility said during a press conference at the Vatican in 2023: « Our job is to expand the tent and to inform everyone that they are welcome to the church. »
« He knows how to listen »
Prespath was born in 1955 and is A member of the World Augustine Religious Orderwhich includes about 2500 priests and brothers, operates in 50 countries and has a special focus on life in a community and equality between its members.
- He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vilyanova in Philadelphia, a master’s degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a doctoral degree in church law from the papal college « St. Thomas Aquin » in Rome.
- It first went to Peru as a missionary in 1985, returning to the United States in 1999 to take on a leadership role in its religious order.
- He later moved to Rome to serve two six-year terms as a head of the Augustus, visiting many of the communities of the Order around the world. It is known to speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.
- Returning to Rome in 2023, a transth generally did not participate in many social events that attract Vatican officials throughout the city.
Leon Angelles said he was a person with leadership skills, « but at the same time he knows how to listen. He possesses this virtue. »
« The cardinal has the courtesy of asking for an opinion, even if it is the simplest or most humble person, » she said. « He knows how to listen to everyone. »
