Pope Leo XIV
Well, it has been one week since the world found out who the next Roman Catholic Pope would be. To everyone’s surprise an American born Pope emerged. This is something that I never really though was possible. Even though we talk about it is not political and is lead by the Holy Spirit there are or were somethings that just seemed impossible in todays climate. The reality is that the Catholic Church is a major influence whether people recognize it or not. It shows every time a Pope speaks or a conclave is about to begin or something like a Jubilee year rolls around. For me this one was the first time I truly paid any attention to the Conclave. First, I has not alive when Pope John Paul II was elected, not old enough to remember Pope Benedict XVI election as I was around four years old, and in 2013 well lets just say as a fifth/sixth grader paying attention to the Conclave was the last thing I wanted to do. So, when it come time for the start of the Conclave this time I made an effort to make sure I missed nothing. Yes, that meant getting up before the sun to watch live streams and listening to those covering the Conclave who were in Rome. What I loved about it was that it did not matter the news source everyone was covering the Conclave. To me it showed that even though we hear that the Catholic Church is behind in times and out of touch, but that is not the case because if that were true no one would cover the Conclave especially news sources that have nothing to do with the Catholic Church. The influence of the Catholic Church stands the test of time. Plus, there is something special about not following the world but following the Holy Spirit. This Conclave proved that because if we followed the world a different Cardinal would have been chosen. Although those Cardinals would have been great in there own way, God knew that right now this is the Pope we need.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was not a name we heard a lot going into the Conclave. First, he had some strikes against him: first, that he is American, and second, his age. Yes, he is 69 years old, but that is on the younger side of things when it comes to the ages of a Pope. This means he could be our Pope for a decent amount of time. He is also an Augustinian making him the first to be Pope. He was born in Chicago, studied at Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, got a Mathematics degree from Villanova, and entered the Order of Saint Augustine. He also studied Canon Law at eh Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Although being American he spent much more of his time as a priest outside the U.S. in Peru as a missionary. Then in 2015 he became Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru where he remained until 2023. In 2023 he became Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Pope Francis named him a Cardinal. And Now he is Pope Leo XIV.
We are very early into his time as Pope. Yet, I get the feeling we are going to see a mix between some of our past Pope’s. First his name, he chose the name Leo for a reason. It parallels Pope Leo XIII who played a major role in workers rights around the time of the first industrial revolution. Pope Leo XIV wants to do something similar just with the added complication of Artificial Intelligence. Next, he has a lot of education and knowledge and worldly experience which can help. Pope John Paul II was a very worldly Pope and so I see some similarities in that. Lastly, Pope Francis, he was close to him and has very similar thoughts as him such synodality which he mentioned in his first speech as Pope. For me the fact that we can see these commonalities with some great Pope’s makes me hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will do some great things for the Catholic Church. In a world the is always divided he could become the bridge that we need. He has great world experience and can relate to all kinds of people. So, I am hopeful for what it to come with Pope Leo XIV as head of the Catholic Church.
Lastly, whatever your thoughts on the current Pope are pray for his intentions everyday. He needs all the prayers he can get as he as a very difficult job and is in the limelight simply because he is the Pope. All I say is pray for Pope Leo XIV.
Resource: Biography of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost - Vatican News
P.S. We all watched history unfold, and appreciate that gift from God. Love, appreciate, and praying for each and everyone of you.
