New Pope live: Pope Leo XIV – first American pontiff – takes Catholic Church helm amid increasing global turmoil – UK Times

American Robert Prevost has become the 267th pope, succeeding the late Francis as Leo XIV.

But cardinals voting in the conclave at the Vatican decided to go back to the Americas, with the 69-year-old Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North America.

Pope Leo XIV told his brother that there was “no way” he would be elected pontiff in the days before the Conclave.

“Last Saturday when I was at church, one of the priests came over and told me the odds in Las Vegas were 18 to 1,” John Prevost told The New York Times. “He didn’t have a doubt. He thought it would definitely be my brother.”

But Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, was almost certain that wouldn’t be the case when his brother called him that night.

“He said, ‘No way, not going to happen,’” Prevost told the newspaper.

The brothers are close – they usually talk every night on the phone and last August, Leo stayed with Prevost at his Illinois home for a few weeks.

Prevost said that his brother is likely to follow in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, and said they were “two of a kind.”

Leo will be “looking out for the disenfranchised, he will be looking out for the poor, he will be looking out for those who don’t have a voice.”

Prevost was pictured outside his home Thursday holding a portrait of the three brothers as boys while he answered reporters’ questions.

Australian Catholics and politicians have welcomed the new Pope Leo XIV, hoping he would continue to support peace and social justice like his predecessor.

Brother Mark O’Connor, head of communications for the Catholic archdiocese of Parramatta, said he had the opportunity to meet the new pope and described him as a “humble, gentle leader”.

“He’s not different from Pope Francis in terms of vision, but maybe in style,” he said. “He’s more low key.”

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, extended his wishes to the pope on behalf of the Roman Catholic church in Australia.

“The Catholic Church in Australia assures Pope Leo XIV of our prayers, loyalty, and joyful anticipation of his spiritual leadership,” he said.

“May his pontificate be marked by peace, unity, and a deepening of the Gospel message throughout the world.”

Prime minister Anthony Albanese also sent his heartfelt congratulations to Pope Leo XIV.

He invited him to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney 2028.

“This is a moment of joy and hope for Catholics all over the world,” the prime minister said. “May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity.”

Cardinal Robert Prevost chose Pope Leo XIV as his papal name after he was elected as the leader of the Catholic Church.

There are no set written rules or official criteria for choosing a pope’s name. But new popes choose names that have meaning in the Catholic tradition.

Shortly after the announcement of the new Pope, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, addressed journalists at a conference in the Holy See Press Office.

Mr Bruni confirmed that the decision to be called Leo XIV was a clear and deliberate reference to Pope Leo XIII, author of the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum.

That document marked the beginning of the Church’s modern social doctrine.

“In this context,” Mr Bruni said, “it is clearly a reference to the lives of men and women, to their work – even in an age marked by artificial intelligence.”

Taiwan president Lai Ching-te has sent his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his appointment, saying Taiwan hopes to continue working with the Vatican to pursue peace, justice and religious freedom, the island’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to retain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, whichis claimed by China, though Mr Lai did not attend Pope Francis’ funeral last month, sending instead former vice president Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic.

Francis had led a wide-ranging outreach to officially atheist China, including signing a deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops in that country, worrying Taiwan.

In his message, Mr Lai “stressed that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the Holy See to jointly pursue peace, justice, religious freedom, solidarity, fraternity, and human dignity”, the statement said.

“Taiwan will continue to promote various exchanges and co-operation with the Holy See, to further strengthen bilateral relations, and to make more contributions to the world together with the Holy See,” said the ministry statement.

The ministry did not say whether Mr Lai might attend Leo’s inauguration.

China has yet to comment on the U.S.-born Leo’s appointment.

Taiwan’s embassy to the Vatican on Friday posted a picture of its outgoing ambassador, Matthew Lee, shaking hands with Leo at a Vatican event in 2023.

Mr Lee told Taiwan’s official Central News Agency that when he told Pope Leo, whose real name is Robert Prevost, that he was from Taiwan, Pope Leo’s response was that he was able to distinguish the difference between “democratic Taiwan and communist China”.

Pictures show the childhood home and former school of Pope Leo XIV in Chicago.

The modest family home where the pope, formerly Robert Prevost, grew up is in Dolton, Illinois.

Photographs also show the St. Mary of the Assumption Church and School where he attended, which is now derelict.

Pope Leo XIV is pictured meeting with the late former popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II in undated photographs obtained by Reuters news agency.

Another black and white photograph shared by the agency shows a young Robert Prevost in another undated snap.

Steve Bannon predicted last week that Robert Prevost could be elected pope – much to his dismay.

“I do think one of the dark horses — and unfortunately one of the most progressive — is Cardinal Prevost… he’s certainly on the shortlist,” Bannon, who is Catholic, told Piers Morgan about the prospect of the first American pope.

“I think it’s pretty shocking given the contempt they hold the American church,” he said. “The American church gives so much money, they’re afraid it has too much power. So they’ve never really wanted to have an American pope.”

Bannon, President Donald Trump’s former chief strategist during his first administration, likened Prevost to Francis “ideologically,” and for years attacked the late pope.