A CARDINAL known for reaching out to marginalized communities has made history after being elected the first American and Augustinian pope, in a development widely seen to continue the late Pope Francis’ legacy of inclusion and reform.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago was elected the 267th successor of St. Peter by the College of Cardinals after four rounds of voting at the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
He chose the name Pope Leo XIV, a move that observers said was an expression of his support for workers and labor groups. The last pontiff to use the name, Pope Leo XIII, was the author of “Rerum Novarum,” a groundbreaking encyclical that emphasized the dignity of work and called for an end to the exploitation of the working class.
White smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 p.m., signaling the election of the successor of Pope Francis, who died from a stroke on April 21.
The new pope was introduced by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti through the traditional “Habemus Papam” declaration and appeared at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the crowds at 6:30 p.m. (Vatican time).
“Peace be with all of you,” Leo said in his first words as pope.
In his first address, the 69-year-old pontiff emphasized the need for the Church to build bridges and to foster dialogue, urging Catholics to show charity and to engage with others in love.
Leo also paid tribute to his predecessor Pope Francis, who elevated him to cardinal last year.
“Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter,” he said.
The pope also offered a message of unity and gratitude, saying everyone can “walk together towards that homeland God has prepared for us.”
“Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges,” Leo said.
As the head of the Catholic Church, Leo will concurrently serve as the bishop of Rome and an administrator of pontifical institutions, including the University of Santo Tomas.
UST prays for pope
The University, the oldest Catholic school in Asia, welcomed Leo’s election with a prayer.
“Thank You, Lord, for the gift of our new Pope. May You grant him the grace to minister to the faithful according to Your will,” the Dominican-run institution said in a Facebook post.
US President Donald Trump, who was heavily criticized recently for posting an AI-generated photo of him as the pope, congratulated Leo on his election and expressed his desire to meet with the pontiff.
“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Trump said in a Facebook post.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also greeted Leo on his election, saying Filipinos are praying for the new pope’s strength and good health “as he leads the faithful with grace, wisdom and compassion.”
“I pray that he will continue to bring the Church closer to the poor and disadvantaged. May his life and ministry inspire us to persevere in our daily walk with our Lord Jesus Christ,” Marcos said in a statement.
More than 78 percent of the Philippines’ population or over 85 million people are Catholics.
Cheers, jeers
Leo entered the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and finished a Mathematics degree at Villanova University in Pennsylvania in 1977.
The pontiff completed a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and was ordained a priest in 1982. He also finished a licentiate and a doctorate degree in canon law at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
During his tenure as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, Leo visited Cebu and blessed the Augustinian Friary of Mohon in Talisay City in 2014. He also served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, which handles matters concerning the appointment of bishops.
Prior to his election as pope, Leo served as the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023. He spent two decades as a missionary in the South American country.
The new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is viewed as a centrist within the Church hierarchy and has supported its traditional teachings while showing openness to progressive approaches on social concerns.
The pope has earned praises for reaching out to those on the margins, including migrants and those in irregular family situations.
However, some sectors expressed disappointment over his election, citing his supposed failure to act on clergy sex abuse complaints in Peru and Chicago.
While leading the Diocese of Chiclayo, Leo was accused by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) of “obstructing” canonical investigations into sexual abuse cases within the Church. How the pope handles such accusations will now come under closer scrutiny as the group claimed in a recent media release that electing him pope would add “insult to injury for survivors whose cases he ignored.”
“As white smoke rises, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests extends its acknowledgment to Pope Leo XIV on the gravity of the role he now assumes. With the title comes a grave reckoning,” SNAP said after Leo’s election as pope.
The conclave began on May 7 with 133 cardinal-electors, three of them Filipinos.
A two-thirds majority vote, or at least 89 votes, is needed to elect a new pope. Ballots are cast in secrecy and voting continues up to four times daily until a consensus is reached. F – Anna Victoria Asuncion
