In his first appearance, Pope Leo offers three big clues about his papacy

By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - From his archetypal moments connected the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV gave 3 important clues astir what benignant of person of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church helium volition be.

Leo, formerly U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected by the world's cardinals connected Thursday arsenic the caller pope connected the 2nd time of the conclave to take a successor to Pope Francis, who died past month.

He is the archetypal pope from the United States, but holds dual citizenship successful Peru, wherever helium was a missionary for decades earlier becoming a cardinal.

Leo's archetypal hint was his prime of name. Popes often usage this prime to nonstop their archetypal large awesome astir the priorities of their caller papacy.

Francis took his sanction from the 13th period St. Francis of Assisi, who rejected wealthiness and wanted to attraction for the poor.

The past pope to instrumentality the sanction Leo, Leo XIII, focused overmuch of his 1878-1903 papacy connected advocating for the rights of workers, calling for just pay, just moving conditions, and the close to articulation unions.

"By picking the sanction Leo XIV, helium shows helium is committed to the societal teaching of the church," said Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit commentator who follows the papacy closely.

Leo's 2nd hint was his prime of connection and the words helium spoke, which enactment a wide accent connected the request for peace, thing Francis besides often focused on.

None of his code to the crowds gathered successful St. Peter's Square was successful English, but alternatively Italian, the connection of the papacy, and a little foray into Spanish to greet his erstwhile assemblage successful Peru. He did not notation the U.S.

"La gait sia con tutti voi!" (Peace beryllium with you!), Leo's archetypal words successful public, echoed the ones Catholics usage successful their celebrations but besides offered an contiguous connection of bid successful a satellite riven with conflict.

Before heading into the concealed conclave connected May 7, the world's cardinals issued a connection lamenting the conflicts "in Ukraine, the Middle East, and galore different parts of the world" and making a "heartfelt appeal" for peace.

The caller pope said helium wanted to stock God's peace, calling it "a disarmed bid and a disarming peace" that is "humble and persevering."

Leo besides mentioned Francis, who offered his past blessing to crowds successful Rome connected Easter Sunday, the time earlier helium died of a changeable aft battling treble pneumonia for weeks.

"We inactive person successful our ears that weak, but ever courageous dependable of Pope Francis," helium said.

Leo asked support to connection the aforesaid blessing Francis utilized conscionable a fewer weeks ago, saying: "God loves us, God loves everyone, and evil volition not prevail. We are successful the hands of God."

Leo's 3rd hint was successful his prime of attire.

Unlike Francis, who spurned each the trappings of the papacy including connected the archetypal time helium was elected successful 2013, Leo wore a accepted reddish papal garment implicit his achromatic cassock.

Although Leo follows successful the contented of Francis, helium signalled helium is simply a new, and different, pope.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Frances Kerry)