ROME – The white smoke billowed softly from the chimney atop the Sistine Chaple at 6:06 p.m. Thursday, May 8.
Chicago born Robert Francis Prevost, 69, accepted the mantle of St. Peter, the Catholic church’s first leader.
“Upon this rock I will build my church,” the Bible states Jesus said when he appointed Peter Simon to lead the church more than 2,000 years ago.
A son of the Augustinian Order, which lives through the spirituality of Jesus Christ professing unity, truth and charity for all, stepped onto the balcony of the Vatican taking the name Leo XIV as thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square cheered. His prior ministry was as the Bishop of Peru and will now serve as the 267th Bishop of Rome.
The selection of an American is extraordinary, and Pope Leo XIV is expected to lead 1.4 billion Catholics in the manner of his predecessors, Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII.
Pope Leo was elected with a two-thirds majority of 133 cardinals from around the world who united following Francis’ death to participate in the conclave. They closed the doors Wednesday, and it took just three ballots to elect him.
Pope Leo addressed the crowd appealing for peace in the world and asking Catholics to build bridges to Christ.
“Evil will not prevail,” he said.
According to Vatican News, he was born on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.
Joseph A. Williams, Bishop of the Diocese of Camden, expressed "deep joy and profound gratitude to the Holy Spirit on Prevost's selection.
"In this moment of great significance for the universal Church, we give thanks for the prayerful discernment of the College of Cardinals and to God, who has once again fulfilled his promise of long ago: ' will give you shepherds after my own heart' (Jeremiah 3:14). Indeed, Pope Leo XIV, whose episcopal motto is 'In Him We Are One,' shares the same desire of the heart of Jesus for the flock he has been called to shepherd as his Vicar on Earth: “May they be one, Father, as we are one” (John 20:22).
He invited the faithful to offer heartfelt prayers for the Pope "that he be given strength and courage in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus the Messiah to the world!"
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