In a historic and decisive vote on Thursday, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, a Chicago native, was elected as the new pope, choosing the name Leo XIV. As the first North American to assume the papacy, his election signals a shift for the Catholic Church and marks an end to centuries of European dominance over the position. The Catholic Review reported the announcement, adding that Pope Leo XIV is known for his conciliatory approach, favored by both conservatives and progressives within the Church.
Even before his name was echoed across St. Peter's Square, a series of deeply rooted ceremonial questions were asked to formally instate Cardinal Prevost as the supreme pontiff. Cardinal Pietro Parolin posed the questions in Latin, inquiring firstly if he accepted the canonical election as supreme pontiff. The second question asked Prevost by what name he wished to be known, according to protocols outlined by NBC Chicago. Upon affirming his acceptance, Prevost was to officially begin his papacy.
Following the confirmation of his new role, Pope Leo XIV was led to the "room of tears," a place where tradition says many popes have felt the weight of their immense new responsibilities. Waiting, there were white papal cassocks readily available in various sizes to be hastily tailored to the new pope's frame. The initial moments after the election are a time-honored tradition, where the new pope reflects and prepares to present himself to the world.
The public's first glimpse of the pope traditionally comes after he receives homage from the cardinal-electors within the Sistine Chapel. It's at this juncture that Pope Leo XIV was also expected to receive his Fisherman's Ring, symbolizing his new role as the shepherd of the Catholic faithful. The official ceremony is a mixture of immediate duties and traditions dating back centuries, intended to seamlessly integrate the new pope into the lineage of his predecessors.
Pope Leo XIV brings a unique blend of experiences, having been a missionary in Peru and holding dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. Pope Francis nominated him “specifically because he did not want someone from the Roman Curia to take on this role. He wanted a missionary; he wanted someone from outside; he wanted someone who would come in with a different perspective," he once conveyed in an August talk at St. Jude Parish in Chicago, as reported by the Catholic Review. His bilingual ability and his non-Curia background are anticipated to influence his papal term, possibly leading the church with a fresh and inclusive direction.
