WATCH: New Pope Picked… And He’s An American! Here’s What We Know About Leo XIV
As big as Trump's big deal with the UK was... this is WAY bigger
After a period of sequestration, and the black smoke of 3 inconclusive votes, the critical threshold of 89 votes has been crossed, and a the Roman Catholic Church has itself a new representative.
Four votes is fewer than was predicted by many, and the decision process was complete on just Day Two.
As per tradition, he is announced in with the Latin phrase ‘Habemus papam’, followed by his natural given name, followed after that by announcement that he has taken a name, at which point the new Pope will reveal the name by which he in his formal office shall be known.
We saw all the pomp and ceremony we might have expected before the waiting crowd. Marching band in full regalia on the square below the papal balcony. The boisterous, cheering crowd waiting in rapt attention.
For anyone wanting a sense of the history and the atmosphere, this is the entire uncut feed.
But for those who don’t have a few hours to kill, you can jump in here, after the name is announced, but just before he steps out from the curtain.
The video continues to include his first words as the newly-minted successor to pope Francis, and the blessing he delivered from the balcony.
By way of introduction, the College of Cardinals report gave this summary of his life and work so far:
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His doctoral thesis was on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.”
His career in the Church has been marked by significant roles and achievements. After his ordination as a priest in 1982, Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.
He spent the year 1987 to 1988 in the United States as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago before returning to Peru where he spent the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teaching canon law in the diocesan seminary, where he was also prefect of studies. He also served in other capacities there, including as a parish pastor, diocesan official, director of formation, seminary teacher, and judicial vicar.
In 1999, he returned to Chicago and was elected provincial prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province in the archdiocese. Two and a half years later he was elected prior general of the Augustinian and served two terms until 2013.
As for the direction he is likely to steer the church in the days to come, he is described as mainly a centrist, apart from a few issues on which he is thought to lean in a more progressive direction.
To restate the obvious, how that plays out in reality will only be known as he begins to take up his role and lead.