The American Robert Francis Prevost, 69, became the first pope from the United States on Thursday under the name of Léon XIV, the Vatican announced. He was acclaimed to his first appearance on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica.
A native of Chicago, this close collaborator of François, discreet and reserved, has a reputation within the Curia, the Vatican government, to be a moderate capable of reconciling divergent points of view.
The new Pope Léon XIV launched a “peace call” Thursday at “all peoples”, during his first speech from the Balcon of the Saint-Pierre Basilica to the Vatican. The first American pope in history also called to “build bridges” through “dialogue”, calling for “going ahead” “without fear, united, hand in hand with God and between us”.
-Charles MOREROD greets a simple man
The president of the Conference of Swiss Bishops (CES) Charles Morerod met on an occasion the new Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who will reign under the name of Léon XIV. He says he was struck by his kindness, his availability and his simplicity.
“I have a very positive image of him,” summed up the bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Friborg on the waves of RTS. According to him, the new pope can be part of the heritage of François, who had appointed him to the responsibility of the Dicastery for the bishops. “He wouldn’t have done him if he didn’t trust him.”
