Robert Francis Prevost, 69 years old, it became this Thursday, May 8, Successor of Pope Francis and in him first American and Peruvian Pontiff of history. However, the news revealed to the world may not have been a surprise for the chosen one.
This was confirmed John Prevost, His brother, in dialogue with the local media Daily Herald. From his home located in the South Suburb of New Lenox of Chicago, United States, the city origin of the Pontiff, his relative accepted that the Appointment of the Pope was unexpected “but there was a glimpse of possibility.”
The new Pope Leo XIV Photo:EFE
According to Premost, the main indication came from a hint made by his brother the night before the conclave and was locked in the Sistine Chapel Together with another 132 voter Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, Vatican hour.
The question asked by Leo XIV who raised Robert’s curiosity was: “What should I call me?”referring to the name that the chosen daddable assume as soon as the majority of the votes in their favor are announced after asking them if they accept the position.
As Roberto recalled, on Tuesday night “we started saying names without stopping. I told him that it shouldn’t be a lion because it would be 13. But he had to investigate a bit to see what was actually 14 “.
Pope Francis brother Photo:Social networks
It should be noted that, before starting voteshis name was one of those mentioned in the list, along with cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle, Pietro Parolin or Matteo Zuppi, postulates as candidates with greatest preferences to get the papacy.
Robert, on the other hand, was a polyglot born in Chicago who served for two decades in Peru, where he became bishop and naturalized citizen.
It was in 2023 when it was consolidated as One of the most influential in the Vatican after the call of the late Pope Francisthat brought it to become the chief the office that examines the nominations of bishops around the world.
Despite this position, and the last talk, John accepted that his brother did not conceive the possibility of being a potato. “He didn’t like to joke about it and he didn’t want to know anything about that,” he said.
As Premost, the prediction of his choice had already been made by a neighbor: “Rob – we thus called him since childhood – he knew that he would be a priest since he learned to walk (…) A neighbor once said once that one day would be Pope. What do you think of that prognosis?”
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Leo XIV with his predecessor Francisco during a ceremony in Vatican City in 2023. Photo:Vatican Pool
Affable, moderate, reserved, American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, since Thursday Pope Leo XIV, was one of the Francisco’s great bets, That he appointed him responsible for bishops around the world and his commission for Latin America, since he also has Peruvian nationality and has Spanish origins by Mother, Mildred Martínez, as Vatican media have highlighted.
This missionary of the former order of San Agustín has been in recent years a narrow collaborator of the late Pope Francis and He entered his style, discreetly, in the list of ‘papables’ for this conclave, like an ‘outsider’ in the midst of other great names.
His moderate mood positions him as a bridge between the factions Conservative and reforming of the Church and its vast knowledge of America LE Valido the support of the South and North Cardinals of the Continent.
American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Photo:Efe/Epa/Giuseppe Lami
Prevost was born in 1955 in Chicago (USA), with also French and Italian origins by father. His ecclesiastical career began with the Augustinian novitiate of Saint Louis Where, in 1981, he assumed his votes. Then the theology studies and a youth trip to Rome would arrive to study canon law.
After ordering priest in 1982, with 28 years, he was immediately sent to the one who would become his second country: Peru, through his mission of Chulucanas, in Piura (1985-1986).
This would be the first step of a long way in Latin America that continued in 1988 in the Peruvian mission of Trujillo, selecting Augustinian vocations in cities such as Chulucanas, Iquitos and Apurímac and exercising other roles for a decade in that archdiocese.
His pontifical choice is a novelty not only because he is considered a young cardinal but also because he becomes the first pope arrives from the heart of a powerful empire, the United States.
Robert Prevost Photo:AFP
During his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, the new Pope dedicated curious words to the cardinals. Leo XIV said that they have “called to carry a cross and to be blessed with this mission”, while asking them to “walk” by their side.
“You have called me to take a cross and to be blessed with this mission and I want you to walk with me because we are a church, a community that must announce the good news,” the American Pope said in English.
*With information from EFE and AFP.
Writing last news.
