What to learn about Pope Leo XIV and his views : NPR

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Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Pictures About 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide can have a brand new religious chief: Pope Leo XIV.

The election of Robert Frances Prevost, who selected the identify Leo XIV, because the 267th chief of the Roman Catholic Church marks two historic firsts.. Leo is be the first-ever U.S.-born pope to steer the church and the primary pope from the Augustinian order.

On Thursday, the brand new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and delivered a brief speech. His opening phrases had been, "Peace be with all of you!"

The 69-year-old pontiff added that he needed his message of peace to "enter your hearts, attain your households and all individuals, wherever they're." Throughout his handle, he spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin.

The brand new pope thanked his fellow cardinals for choosing him. He additionally expressed gratitude to his former diocese in Peru and spoke warmly of Pope Francis, his late predecessor, earlier than ending his remarks with a prayer.

Leo is thought to share a few of the similar priorities as Francis, significantly relating to the atmosphere and outreach to migrants and the poor, in line with The Faculty of Cardinals Report, a useful resource created by a crew of Vatican journalists.

The brand new pope was born in Chicago in 1955, in line with Vatican Information. His father is of French and Italian descent, whereas his mom is of Spanish descent.

Leo studied on the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He went on to attend Villanova College in Pennsylvania, the place he acquired a level in arithmetic. He later pursued his theological schooling on the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Though the brand new pontiff is American, one of the important chapters of his ministry befell in Peru. Prevost served there for roughly 20 years. Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014 and he grew to become a cardinal final yr.