Cheers and tears: Robert Prevost is the first American Pope!
Cheers and tears: Robert Prevost is the first American Pope!
Petersplatz, Rom, Italien - at 6:07 p.m. On May 8, 2025, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and ensured cheering crowds on St. Peter's Square. Numerous believers had been pending since the morning so as not to miss the next smoke sign. After two black smoke signals, the excitement was great. There was initially unclear whether it was black or white smoke until it was finally found that it was white smoke.
The crowd was waiting excitedly, because nobody first knew who the new Pope would be. Around an hour later, Cardinal Protodiacon Dominique Mamberti announced the famous "Habemus Papam" on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, was the first Pope from the USA in the history of the Catholic Church. He will bear the name Leo XIV.
a new way for the Catholic Church
The 69-year-old Prevost, who appeared on the balcony at 7:13 p.m., called for the more than 100,000 people waiting in Italian: "Peace is with all of you, dear brothers and sisters." Prevost emphasized the need to build bridges for the world and referred to his predecessor, Pope Francis. He had previously managed the dicasterium for all bishops worldwide as a curia cardinal and is considered a mediator between reformers and traditionalists within the church.
Before his appointment, Prevost was active as a missionary and bishop in Peru and also had Peruvian citizenship. The election took place after a sedis vacancy of two and a half weeks due to the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday after a stroke and severe pneumonia.A look at the conclave
The conclave that initiated the choice of Leo XIV began with 133 cardinals in the Vatican and was a high -diplomatic matter. Church historian Rupert Klieber emphasized that such elections were often associated with political influence. Historically, monarchs, including the Habsburgers, tried to influence Pope elections. They used veto rights to prevent unpleasant candidates and had a significant impact on the election processes for years.
The conclave needed a total of four electoral courses to agree on Prevost after Pietro Parolin, who was considered a favorite, was not chosen. Prevost appeared in a gold brocade stole, which is interpreted by experts as a sign of a new style. Leo XIV is the 267th Pope in Catholic history.
Next Sunday Prevost will hold his first Angelus prayer in front of tens of thousands of believers on St. Peter's Square, followed by a large fair for inauguration in the next week. The Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, also expressed a positive statement about the new pontificate and its challenges.
This is how a new chapter begins in the history of the Catholic Church and the Pontificate of Leo XIV is expected with a lot of tension and hope.
For more information, please visit the reports from FAZ href = "https://www.tagesspiegel.de/internationales/katholische-kirche-us-amikererer-reuer-neuer-papst-13658200.html"> Tagesspiegel and katholisch.at .
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| Ort | Petersplatz, Rom, Italien |
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