Pope Leo XIV: History made in the Vatican
History has been made. For the first time in the history of the Vatican, an American Cardinal has been elected to lead as the head of the global Catholic Church. His given name is Robert Prevost. As for a papal name, Cardinal Prevost has chosen Pope Leo XIV. The new Pope delivered his message first in Italian and then switched to Spanish. Some spectators who were at Saint Peter's Square, listening to the Pope, said they detected Pope Leo's American accent. It's a given. Addressing the roaring crowd, the first thing the new Pope said when introducing himself, as reported by a TV anchor, was that he was an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, "so we can all walk together."
On May 8, when the midday local news was on, it broke the ongoing news broadcast and flashed on screen "Breaking News." Earlier in the morning, I saw black smoke curling upwards from the chimney of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. This, as we know, signifies that the 133 cardinals who were sequestered inside the chapel did not reach a consensus. They started the new Pope selection process on May 7. Hundreds and thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics were waiting in anticipation at Saint Peter's Square and were somewhat disappointed after seeing the black smoke. The news agencies predicted that it would be at least another 24 hours before the next round of vote count results were announced. By then, it was almost dinner time in Rome. Suddenly, there was white smoke coming out of the chimney, indicating that a decision had been made by the papal conclave and that a candidate had gained the two-thirds majority to announce a winner.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. About an hour passed after people around the world saw the white smoke billowing in a live telecast. We still did not know the name of the new Pope. But that did not matter. The mood changed to one of euphoria. People were hugging one another and shedding happy tears. After a while, the wait became unbearable for some, as they were impatient to see the new Pope emerge onto the balcony to greet everyone. They had been standing there for hours for news. One television reporter said, "The keys of the kingdom are passed on to the new successor of Saint Peter!" There were lots of guesses as to the name of the new pontiff. People were pondering which papal name the new Pope was going to pick. Meanwhile, the new Pope was getting dressed in three cassocks.
Finally, the doors of the Vatican balcony flung open. Everyone was stunned to see the new Pope coming out with other cardinals. People who had gathered there firsthand experienced how history was made. Seeing the American Cardinal in the Pope's attire, everyone roared in unison. It was a moment unlike any other that people had seen in the Vatican's history. It was indeed a pleasant surprise for many, though his name had been tossed around right after Pope Francis passed away. Pope Leo was Pope Francis' favourite.
The marching bands and Swiss Guards parading across Saint Peter's Square kept the booming crowd entertained. It was a jubilant and colourful scene to witness. Amid the crowd, there was a pregnant American woman who told a reporter that she was in Rome only for a day. She seemed delirious with happiness that she could witness such a monumental event.
As soon as I texted the message that a new Pope had been selected to someone close to me, the reply came in two seconds: "I had a hunch, but that was fast. Part of the impetus may be to soften the impact of Trump, to lessen the cruelty, just saying." At first, I did not quite agree. I thought Pope Leo was chosen because of his own merit. At a time when the world is divided, a Pope will not be chosen just because he is an American.
According to some of the media reports, Pope Leo is very much like the late Pope Francis. He is deeply committed to the betterment of the world's poor. Leo is a native of Chicago. He grew up in Chicago's rough South Side, infamous for crime, poverty, and segregation. Historically, Chicago natives live below the national poverty line. The city is plagued with many problems. One can hope the new Pope will address these historical issues, as he can relate to such social evils, having witnessed them. He also knows how such social and economic problems impact the lives of many people if these issues are not eradicated.
During a time of deep political polarisation in the world, the cardinals had to think carefully when electing the Pope, considering whether the world wanted continuity or change. The new Pope's role is not to bypass the American president and its administration by making major policies that affect the world. His role is, rather, a symbolic one as a spiritual leader of Catholics around the world. The world will be waiting to see how Pope Leo will implement the Vatican policies that concern the global population. The Vatican Church plays a significant role, as the pontiffs usually have influence over world leaders. The new Pope could be a peace broker, as the world is in great crisis right now.
As an American and as a Pope, Leo can bring Americans back to the church. He is going to be a "father" to all Catholics. For the first time in history, a Pope will speak in English. From the looks of it, he is quite at home when speaking Spanish or Italian.
Pope Leo is hopefully going to be a leader on the world stage, "a bridge builder" between countries. As a missionary, Leo spent many years in Peru. He was first a missionary and then an archbishop. In his first speech as Pope, Leo mentioned Peru and his time there.
It was reported that, as a person, Leo is humble, quiet, and can be stubborn as well. It is too early to know how he will be as a Pope. We have learned that he loves Italian pizza over the deep-dish American variety. He is a fan of the Chicago Cubs (baseball team). And surely the world will find out more about Pope Leo in the coming weeks and months.
Zeenat Khan is a contributor to South Asia based journals and magazines.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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