We have a pope

First thoughts to date on him personally - he's got emotions and a sense of humour and it's interesting to watch a broad spectrum of his associates looking pretty uniformly relieved and pleased that he has got that position.

Seems like he is liked and I rather like him myself. He's human.

He was born and spent 27 years in the US. He is an American from Chicago. He then spent 20 years in Peru and has dual citizenship. He spoke first in American English and then Italian in the video I saw.

The Catholics of Chicago, and the country, are just tickled he is an American. Our news media was interviewing his relatives. It is such a nice thing to see the joy right now.

Though I am not Catholic, I will keep interest in his Papalcy.

Agree *NanaMaryNH. He is so much more important than politicians or transsexuals, let neither of those groups try to make this occasion about themselves

Please please don't make this about Trump Vance. The Holy Spirit guided the cardinals to choose a holy guy who chose the Augustines (big on service), spent 20 years in Peru, years as head of his Order, navigated the Vatican, his first words as Pope were to offer EVERYONE peace... and he is reduced to politics?! The FACT is that if he teaches love, this will oppose Trump Vance Hate. But he is so much more!!!

Maybe, like Francis, he will Make Poping Great Again.

Hé has a lot of work to do.

MayBee70

Is it disrespectful to say I kept thinking of Paddington when he mentioned Peru?

So did I!

I believe he has dual citizenship.

Doodledog

The first US Pope!

Lots said about that, but despite being born in Chicago, he has spent most of his life in S America, and has Peruvian citizenship

sarahcyn

The plot of Conclave sadly falls to bits in real life...because if a cardinal is created in pectore they immediately cease to be a cardinal when the pope who made the appointment dies - unless the pope has formally informed another person in confidence of the appointment.
Great film visually...utter bollocks otherwise

That's a shame. I quite liked the idea and rather wished it had been a trans man that had become Pope.
Then maybe there could be a followup book where a trans woman becomes leader of the WI, or would that be taking things a little too far.

Me too, maybe it’s just my age. I felt genuine sadness when I heard of Pope Francis’ passing. Despite being a Catholic I haven’t paid too much attention to previous conclaves.

Wyllow3

I had to look up synodality keepingquiet which looks like a good thing in terms of "inclusive", so why is he described s having a conservative view on women's participation?

Synodality doesn't only mean that women can't be priests. Women have never been priests in the RC church, but they have been deacons.
I think synodality is about many things but you have picked up on inclusiveness. Pope Francis promoted a number of women into senior posts at the Vatican, and so did Pope Leo when he was head of the bishops dicastery. It isn't about excluding women but about encouraging female participation more fully in senior roles in the church which have previously been held by priests. It doesn't mean they can, want to be or should be, priests- that is another argument all together.
I think Pope Leo will get attacked on all sides for being too progressive, or not progressive enough. He won't be able to win that battle of whose side is he on?
Primarily he is on the side of the church, which is a massive institution where there are strong feelings on all sides and from all cultures and countries.
How does he navigate those waters? By being faithful to the Gospel and to the teachings of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.
That is my hope that he can walk that very difficult path in a world that is often hostile to the Christian faith...

That part bothers me a lot, assuming it is true.

So many people getting excited over a man who is reported to have turned a blind eye to abuse of children

How long before Trump claims influence? Pope Leo looks nice with a kind smile.

Skye17

There seems to be some confusion about the ethnic heritage of the new Pope. His mother is of Spanish descent and his father of French and Italian descent. He lived in America for his first 27 years.
www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html

I have also heard that he speaks with a Chicago accent.

I think it’s impressive that he speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian as well as English, and can read German and Latin.

So basically he's "mixed mediterranean - though born in America".

It all comes over as confusion causing him to be called American - that I suppose is part of this "self-identification" trend that has been going on for a few years now and that does include some people saying they are a different nationality to their own parents.

Obviously that stops and the nationality "switches" somewhere along the line. The Welsh have a phrase that some will say they are "5th generation Welsh" - meaning "I'm Welsh and my parents were and theirs before them were etc" for at least 5 generations and would still be calling themselves Welsh regardless of which country they were born in.

There seems to be some confusion about the ethnic heritage of the new Pope. His mother is of Spanish descent and his father of French and Italian descent. He lived in America for his first 27 years.
www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html

I have also heard that he speaks with a Chicago accent.

I think it’s impressive that he speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian as well as English, and can read German and Latin.

Chocolatelovinggran

Wyllow and MayBee- so the Maga movement hates him and sees him a " Marxist puppet pope"?
I like him already!

Are they already? Goodee!!!!

sarahcyn

My brother, 71, texted me last night: "You know you're getting old when the Pope is younger than you are"

Brilliant Sarah!!!!

Apparently Leo was the great friend of Francis of Assi when they were alive, also good that he seems up for challenging Trump & the maga lot, he'll be around longer that Trum I hope

My brother, 71, texted me last night: "You know you're getting old when the Pope is younger than you are"

When I looked at my daily digest from Gransnet it read
We have a pope
Won't wear his hearing aid

Mt61

American. Donald will be pleased.

Probably not the potty Trump and he supporters claimed Francis was a Marxist and Leo is very much in his image.

It looks as though Trump has succeeded in doing the impossible...he has united the Catholic Church - against himself!
Prevost has been very clear in his opposition to Trump, especially his immigration policies, from way back.
Nice of him to name himself after my son.

The plot of Conclave sadly falls to bits in real life...because if a cardinal is created in pectore they immediately cease to be a cardinal when the pope who made the appointment dies - unless the pope has formally informed another person in confidence of the appointment.
Great film visually...utter bollocks otherwise