Peruvian priest about the Pope: He himself chose to be a South American, with everything that means
10. May 2025 at 9:28
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The new Pope has been a missionary in Peru for many years.
New Pope Leo XIV.real name Robert Francis Prevost, has worked in the South American Peru since the mid -1980s.
During this period, the Peruvian priest Braulio Rosas, who has been studying biblical sciences in Rome for the last four years, was in contact with him. The SME daily talked to him in the Latin American College, the Vatican seminar for students from Central and South America.
In the interview you read:
- As a man showed a new Pope in Peru,
- Why did he accept Peruvian citizenship,
- What, according to Rosas, will be different from his predecessor František,
- whether he is a critic of Trump,
- whether he is a conservative or a progression.
You knew the new Pope Leo XIV. Like Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost?
Yes. I knew him, at least twice I met him. The first time he was ordained a bishop of my diocese of Huancayo in Peru. I saw him the second time last October. I participated as an assistant at the Synod, where I met him daily. He always behaved very nicely. However, it did not seem to be in the center of attention. He’s a simple person. Very nice, he always answered with a big smile. He never defended anyone and always laughed.
Did you surprise you when you learned that the Pope became the Cardinal of the Highness?
Yes, I was really surprised. I am also affected by what the media spread. According to them, he was not among the hot candidates for the Pope. I thought that one of the great cardinals, such as Pietro Parolin or Luis Antonio Tagle, would be the Pope. However, the fact that the Pope became the Pope’s Cardinal, but it was not only a surprise for me, but for all people in the Square of St. Petra. Everyone asked: Who is this cardinal? We don’t know him properly.
Was there a great celebration in Peru on Thursday when people learned that the Pope became an Archbishop who worked in their country?
Yes. But I must add that many Peruvians did not know the Cardinal before. He was not well known in the country during his time in Peru. But when they learned that he worked in Peru, there was a great celebration in all the dioceses of the country. The Episcopal Conference also issued a statement for thanking God for this Peruvian Pope.
The new Pope is originally an American from the US, but has been in Peru for a long time. Do you think there is more American than Peruvian or vice versa?
He was born in the United States, but he wanted to become a Peruvian of his own will, so he also accepted Peruvian citizenship. And this is a great gift, because no one can choose where he is born, but then he chose to be Peruvian at some stage of his life.
After all, as a missionary has been in Peru since 1985, which has been a long time. Therefore, he became one of us – South American. With everything that entails, even with the way of thinking.
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But it is also a person open to worldwide matters, because he was twice the general superior of the Augustinian Order. For this reason, it can be said that it is a universal pope. But the heart has Peruvian. We are really proud of it.
So do you consider him to be your pope?
Undoubtedly. On the day of his election, all Peruvian newspapers wrote about him as the Peruvian Pope. He is a Peruvian because he loves Peru. He spoke Italian on Thursday, but then went to Spanish. He said, « I remember my diocese of Huancayo. »
Can you explain in more detail what it means that the new Pope worked in Peru as a missionary? Does this mean he worked with the indigenous population and went to the forest?
[email protected] to help you.
