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12h ago

Pope Leo XIV Becomes First American Pontiff, Signals Focus on Social Justice

Robert Francis Prevost, elected on May 8, chooses a name tied to Catholic social teaching and emphasizes peace in his inaugural address.

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Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Overview

  • Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history.
  • His choice of the name Leo XIV honors Pope Leo XIII, renowned for his 1891 encyclical on workers' rights and social justice, signaling continuity with this legacy.
  • In his first public speech, delivered in Italian and Spanish, he emphasized peace and invoked themes of humility and perseverance in leadership.
  • Prevost’s background includes decades of missionary work in Peru, leadership of the Augustinian Order, and a key Vatican role overseeing global bishop appointments.
  • The Church now anticipates his formal inauguration and potential initiatives addressing social justice, governance reforms, and global challenges.