Full in the panting heart of Rome: Leo XIV ascends to the Throne of the Fisherman
The Catholic Herald• May 8, 2025
Habemus papam. The Church has a new pope: Leo XIV. When the protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, Dominique Mamberti, announced “Cardinalem Prevost” there was a brief silence in St Peter’s Square as people attempted to register who he was; but the same was true of Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 2013. Robert Francis Prevost, the former Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, was one of the lesser-known of the papabile, the likely candidates for the papacy, but not a total outsider. His relatively swift election, during the first full day’s conclave voting, suggests that he has made a favourable impression on his fellow cardinals. That augurs well for a Pope who spoke from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica – his basilica – about the need for unity in the Church.
The one thing everyone now knows about Pope Leo is that, hailing from Chicago, he is the first American to be the Successor of Peter. He is also the first native Anglophone pope since Hadrian IV in 1154, and was prior-general of the Augustinian order before coming a bishop in Peru. Significantly, he is of French and Italian descent on his father’s side and Spanish on his mother’s. In his address he mentioned the Peruvians in St Peter’s Square and addressed them in Spanish, speaking fondly of the Church in Peru –almost simultaneously the bells of Lima Cathedral rang out in thanksgiving and celebration. To loud cheers he greeted the people of the diocese of Rome, whose bishop he now is.
Some of Pope Leo’s address was extempore and spontaneous, which made all the more striking the emphasis he placed on peace and reconciliation. Peace was its dominant motif; perhaps we can expect this aspect of his predecessor’s pontificate to be equally prominent his own. He also spoke of the importance of building bridges, making play of his title as the Pontifex Maximus, or greatest bridge-builder – a title the early popes simply took over from the emperors. Tellingly, he did not speak in English at all, and made no reference at all to the United States. It may be that the first American pope identifies as a Peruvian, but these are only the first moments of his pontificate: perhaps his future addresses will make more of his American heritage.
Significantly, Pope Leo appeared on the balcony wearing the traditional crimson mozzetta, the pectoral cross on its gold cord, and the red-and-gold state stole – thereby re-establishing the continuity in papal dress which Pope Francis pointedly eschewed. The red shoes remained in their boxes, however, and it is far too early to tell whether he will seek to be a moderniser or a conservative; but he quite explicitly aligned himself with his predecessor, paying him warm tribute. He also mentioned synodality, and we shall see whether he takes that process, initiated by Pope Francis, any further.
His name, too, is significant; who knows how long he had pondered it? The first Pope Leo, known as the Great, was notable as a theologian, as identifying himself as the heir of St Peter and thus a focus of unity and a man of charity. Yet the most memorable episode in his remarkable career was his encounter with Attila the Hun and his terrible army, whom he saw off when he marched on Rome. We may hope that this Leo, too, sees himself as a defender of the Church.
Cardinal Prevost, as he was until this evening, had something of a reputation as a conciliator. Both progressives and traditionalists will surely have warmed to his concluding his address to the city and the world, as the sun set over Rome and before he imparted his first solemn benediction of 1.4 billion souls, with the Ave Maria. That devotion to the Mother of the Lord will stand him in good stead. May God bless him in all the challenges that lie ahead. Habemus papam.