LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – On the second day of the conclave, the College of Cardinals elected the first pope born in the United States.
Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was chosen and accepted the role as the next leader of the world’s nearly 1.5 billion Catholics. Prevost, who was brought to Rome to work in the Vatican by Pope Francis, selected the papal name Leo XIV.
To be elected, a pope must receive a two-thirds majority of the cardinal votes.
Prevost, who was brought to Rome to work in the Vatican by Pope Francis, selected the papal name Leo XIV.
Your News Now spoke with Father David Ross about the significance of a pope with roots in the New World.
“Well, I'm not saying I was shocked. I was pleasantly surprised. He's a good man. I think he was selected because of his middle of the road attitude, I think relative to a lot of issues that we're facing in the church, he speaks a number of languages. Clearly, he speaks Spanish. We certainly know he speaks English, and because he worked in it in Italy, in the Vatican, he speaks Italian. I'm not sure what other languages he speaks, but he's going to be able to relate quite easily, I think, with a lot of world leaders, because of his command of the languages,” says Fr. David Ross, pastor of St. Rose and St. John.
During his first address as pope, Leo XIV referenced Pope Francis and said the world and humanity need the light of Christ.
