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After news of the white smoke was released at 6 pm Vatican time, thousands of people flocked to St. Peter's Square to wait for the new pope to go out the window and the one chosen to replace Francis I is Robert Prevost.
Robert Prevost, a missionary and cardinal with deep roots in Latin America, was introduced to the world as Leo XIV, the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
At 69 years of age, the Augustinian religious from Chicago marked a before and after in the Vatican. Dressed in the traditional red cape - a symbolic gesture that his predecessor Francis had omitted in 2013 - he offered his first words, "Peace be with you." He then spoke in Spanish, evoking his time as a missionary and archbishop in Chiclayo, Peru.
Prevost was no stranger to the conclave. In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to Rome to head the Congregation for Bishops, one of the Vatican's most influential offices. Although his nationality was seen as an obstacle, his dual citizenship and long career in Latin America helped break that taboo.
Leo XIV presents himself with a message of peace and comion
From the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the new Pope Leo XIV offered his first message to the world with a clear call: peace, humility and a Church open to those who suffer most. In an unusual gesture with respect to his predecessors, the speech was completely written, reflecting a meditated and profound intention.
Robert Prevost was chosen as Francis' successor, and his election already marks a historic stage. He is not only the first American pontiff, but also a natural heir to the pastoral and reformist line of the Argentine pope, whom he thanked directly: "Thank you, Pope Francis," he said with visible emotion.
The new pontiff opened his speech with words charged with Christian symbolism: "Peace be with you", evoking the greeting of the risen Christ. He then insisted on the need for a "disarming, humble and persevering" peace, born of a God who loves unconditionally.
During his message, he also spoke in Spanish, a language he has mastered due to his years as a missionary and archbishop in Peru. With a firm but serene voice, he reminded that "evil will not prevail" and that God's blessing is for everyone, without exception.