VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States was elected as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The new pontiff appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica shortly after the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signalling the conclusion of the conclave.
The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church, as the United States had never previously produced a pope. The new pontiff brings with him a wealth of experience from his work in the Vatican, where he has served in various senior roles, and from his pastoral work in Latin America. In his first address from the balcony, the new pope called for unity, peace, and a renewed commitment to the mission of the Church in the modern world.
The election came just a day after the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave, following the death of Pope Francis. The new pontiff is expected to continue many of Pope Francis’s reforms, while also bringing his own perspective to the role. The name Leo XIV is seen as a deliberate choice, echoing the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who is remembered for his social encyclicals and his engagement with the modern world. The Seychelles Catholic community, like Catholic communities around the world, is expected to celebrate the election of the new pontiff in the coming days.
-
-
-
-
