Robert Prevost Emerges As New Pope.

By Timilehin Ajibade

The new Pope is Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV – the first American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV opened his speech with “peace may be with all of you”, with the word peace recurring multiple times in his words to the crowds.

Speaking in Italian, he made several references to late Pope Francis.

He also briefly spoke in Spanish to greet Peru, where he served as bishop.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, is an American who has spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru, is a relatively unknown on the global stage.

Made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, he has given few media interviews and rarely speaks in public.

Originally from Chicago, he has attracted interest from his peers because of his quiet style and support for Francis’ 12-year papacy, especially his commitment to social justice issues.

Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru, from 2015 to 2023.

Francis brought him to Rome that year to head the Vatican office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops across the globe, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world’s bishops.

Prevost said during a 2023 Vatican press conference: “Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church.”