The Vatican already has the successor of Francisco. Robert Francis Prevost Martínez It will be the new Pope under the name of XIV lion. The cardinal has been chosen in the fourth vote of the conclave, the third on Thursday, such as the 276 Supreme Pontiff.
As ABC’s correspondent in the Vatican, Javier Martínez-Brocal, Robert Prevost was one of the favorite candidates to happen to Francisco. To this American cardinal, Chicago missionaryof 69 yearsthe newly deceased Pope had given an important role within the Vatican curia a few months ago.
Robert Prevost becomes The first American and the first Augustine in becoming a pope In the history of the Catholic Church.
«I am the son of San Agustín. I am a Christian and Bishop. We can walk together towards that country for which God has prepared us, ”said Pope Leo XIV in his first speech from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro. The new high pontiff has advocated for a “ Missionary Churchthat build bridges and dialogue and open to decide, like this place, all those who need charity, dialogue, affection ».
Its origins, their parents and their relationship with Spain
Robert Francis Prevost Martínez (United States, 1955) was chosen last January by Francisco himself as the new prefect of the “Congregation of Bishops” and was in charge of selecting the new bishops.
Born in ChicagoPrevost has Franco Italian origins and also Spaniardssince his mother had ancestry with our country. Knowing sources highlight their impeccable curriculum and international vision as strengths.
Of his training, it is known that he graduated from Mathematical Sciences And also specialized in Philosophy. Then he also studied theology in Chicago, where he obtained a mention in intercultural mission and At 26 he ordered priest.
And 1985, Prevost He moved to Peru where he was doing for years missionary With the Augustinians. There he had a lot of weight and went through Trujillo, Chulucanas, Iquitos or Apurímac and also, in parallel, he exercised teaching dome functions.
In October 2013, Prevost returned to Chicago to exercise again as a teacher of the professors and provincial vicar, functions that he developed until November 3, 2014, when the Papa Francisco He appointed him apostolic administrator of the Peruvian diocese of Chiclayo, raising him to the dignity of obispo and assigning the diocese holding of Sufar.
His relationship with Pope Francis and his vision of migration and climate change
In 2019, the Papa Francisco He was appointed member of the Congregation for the clergy in 2019 and the Congregation for Bishops in 2020, in addition to Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Callao. It was in 2023 when he was appointed prefect of Dicasteria for bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
The new Pope was a member of You are the dicasterios of the Vaticanas well as the Commission for the State Government of the Vatican City, which has been interpreted as an indication of Pope Francis’s confidence in the purple.
Prevost I knew Bergoglio from Buenos Aires and both shared their vision about the poor and migrants. In addition, Chicago had also been very involved with the need to act urgently against the Climate changeanother of Francisco’s concerns and is the defender of the Synod Church.
Regarding the possibility of orderthe purple has been contrary and in an interview he has assured that “clericalizing women does not necessarily solve a problem, could generate a new one.”
The new Pope has a high knowledge in languages, since he speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and understands some Latin and German.
