• Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
Sunday, June 15, 2025
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Elanza News
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Elanza News
Home National

Catholic Church Elect First American Pope

Ojimaojo Abubakar by Ojimaojo Abubakar
May 8, 2025
in National, News
0
Catholic Church Elect First American Pope
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailTelegram

Catholic cardinals have elected Robert Prevost, the first Pope from the United States of America, who has taken the new name Pope Leo XIV after the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting on Thursday.

Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi said it took cardinals only four rounds of voting to pick a new pope and that white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney after a day’s voting is “a clear sign of the unity of the Church. ”

RelatedPosts

Northern CAN Mourns Plateau Chair, Fr. Lubo

Obi Calls for National Emergency over Benue Killings

Benue LG Boss Bans Forest Logging Activities Over Insecurity

The Pontiff, picked even faster than his predecessor, Francis, appeared on the Vatican balcony amid enthusiastic cheers from thousands of faithful who packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday to witness the historic event.

“May peace be with all of you,” he said from the Vatican balcony after paying tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who gave his life to the service of humanity. He stressed that he wants to deliver his blessing to the people as Pope Francis did in his last appearance in St Peter’s Square.

After concluding his speech, the new Pope started reading a religious passage in Latin, paying homage to the saints and the Madonna. The pope continued with a message of peace and noted, “God loves us all, unconditionally”.

“Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.

“Without fear, united hand in hand with God, we are the Disciples of Christ, and the world needs his light.

ALSO READ:  NILDS: Nigeria's Cambridge and Harvard - Akpabio

“Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I want to offer a greeting of peace to your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you,” he said.

Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is seen as a reformer who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.

The cardinals strongly perceived that the new pope would need to carry forward Pope Francis’s legacy of reaching out to those on the margins and bring along with him a wide spectrum of those within the Church, including those with whom Pope Francis was sometimes at loggerheads.

Observers considered Cardinal Robert Prevost a candidate who could fulfil that role—someone who could be a bridge between different worlds.

The fact that the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting suggests that the cardinals agreed with that assessment.

Robert Prevost will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. Although he is the first American to fill the role of Pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru before becoming an archbishop there.

Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Ecuadorian and French descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and a priest in his home city.

He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges. He spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.

ALSO READ:  Audit queries: Senate decries persistent absence of FIRS, NNPCL, NCS, CBN before panel

He is well known to cardinals because of his high-profile role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, which has the critical task of selecting and supervising bishops. Francis made him a cardinal less than two years ago.

As Francis appointed 80% of the cardinals who took part in the conclave, it is unsurprising that someone like Prevost was elected, even if he was only recently appointed.

He will be seen as a figure who favoured the continuity of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic Church. Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment.

He will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, and his Latin American background also represents continuity after a Pope who came from Argentina.

During his time as archbishop in Peru, he did not escape the sexual abuse scandals that have clouded the Church. However, his diocese fervently denied he had been involved in any attempted cover-up.

Before the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals in the days before the conclave they emphasised the need for a pope with “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair”.

‎Top 10 Things to Know About the New Pope, Robert Francis Prevost

‎1. First American Pope

‎Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first pope from the United States, born in Chicago, Illinois.

ALSO READ:  Good Governance Advocates Laud Aviation Minister Over Improved Global Rating

‎2. Elected as the 267th Pope

‎He was chosen after a swift two-day conclave, becoming the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

‎3. Age and New Namel

‎At 69 years old, he adopted the papal name Leo XIV upon his election.

‎4. Deep Missionary Experience in Latin America

‎Prevost spent over a decade in Peru as a bishop and seminary educator, gaining respect for his pastoral leadership and cultural fluency.

‎5. Leader of the Augustinian Order

‎He led the Augustinians globally for over ten years, managing an international religious community.

‎6. Key Vatican Roles

Before becoming pope, he was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America—two influential positions in Church governance.

‎7. Academic and Legal Scholar

‎He holds degrees in mathematics, theology, and canon law, and has taught canon law in Latin America.

‎8. Calm, Reform-Oriented Leader

‎Known for his consensus-building style, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a clear-headed reformer continuing the legacy of Pope Francis.

‎9. Advocate for Women’s Inclusion

‎He supports meaningful female participation in Church governance, emphasising their real impact within Vatican bodies.

‎10. Mission-Driven Papacy

‎Pope Leo XIV remains committed to missionary work, global outreach, and addressing challenging issues like clerical abuse with humility and resolve.

Tags: Pope
Ojimaojo Abubakar

Ojimaojo Abubakar

Abubakar Ojimaojo is a graduate of Mass Communication, political and football analyst currently work at elanzanews.ng as Editor. He pride himself as skilled wordsmith with a passion for delving into contemporary political issues on both national and international scale.

Related Posts

Northern CAN Mourns Plateau Chair, Fr. Lubo

Northern CAN Mourns Plateau Chair, Fr. Lubo

by Ojimaojo Abubakar
June 15, 2025
0

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory has expressed deep grief...

Obi Doesn’t Need PDP, Atiku Coalition to Defeat Tinubu – NLC

Obi Calls for National Emergency over Benue Killings

by Nathaniel Irobi
June 15, 2025
0

  Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has denounced the recent killings in Benue State, which have tragically affected women, children,...

Benue LG Boss Bans Forest Logging Activities Over Insecurity

Benue LG Boss Bans Forest Logging Activities Over Insecurity

by Nathaniel Irobi
June 15, 2025
0

The chairman, Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue, Melvin Ejeh, has imposed an immediate and comprehensive ban on all...

Recommended

Nigerian Stock Market Slightly Slumps after Holiday

Nigerian Stock Market Slightly Slumps after Holiday

4 days ago
APC Chieftain Tackles Buni over Sunday Morning North East Zonal Meeting

APC Chieftain Tackles Buni over Sunday Morning North East Zonal Meeting

2 days ago

Popular News

  • Arewa group hails Tinubu’s inclusive appointments

    NURTW President Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Urges Greater Support For Transport Sector

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kaduna Govt Unveils 345 Supervisory Councillors, Special Advisers Across 23 LGAs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Group Warns Against Attempt To Pitch Senator Katung Against Tinubu, Gov Uba Sani

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NAHCON Officials Grumble in Saudi Arabia Over Unpaid Allowances

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • My Office Is Accessible To All, Hon. Bawa Tells Group

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Connect with us

Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Elanza logo

Elanza News is your NO 1 online platform for all news update.
#SayNoToFakeNews
Contact Us

Category

  • Arts & Literature (25)
  • Business (726)
  • Education (213)
  • Entertainment (310)
  • Health (190)
  • National (2,096)
  • News (7,882)
  • Opinion (290)
  • Politics (1,578)
  • Science (15)
  • Security (404)
  • Sports (425)

Newsletter

© 2023 Elanza News - The No 1 online news platform

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Health

© 2023 Elanza News - The No 1 online news platform