Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?

Even earlier his sanction was announced from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, the crowds beneath were chanting "Viva il Papa" - Long unrecorded the Pope.

Robert Prevost, 69, volition beryllium the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and helium volition beryllium known arsenic Leo XIV.

He is the archetypal American to capable the relation of Pope, though helium is considered arsenic overmuch a cardinal from Latin America due to the fact that of the galore years helium spent arsenic a missionary successful Peru, earlier becoming a bishop there.

Born successful Chicago successful 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, Prevost served arsenic an altar lad and was ordained arsenic a clergyman successful 1982. Although helium moved to Peru 3 years later, helium returned regularly to the US to service arsenic a pastor and a anterior successful his location city.

He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered arsenic a fig who worked with marginalised communities and helped physique bridges.

He spent 10 years arsenic a section parish pastor and arsenic a teacher astatine a seminary successful Trujillo successful northwestern Peru.

In his archetypal words arsenic Pope, Leo XIV spoke fondly of his predecessor Francis.

"We inactive perceive successful our ears the anemic but ever courageous dependable of Pope Francis who blessed us," helium said.

"United and manus successful manus with God, fto america beforehand together," helium told cheering crowds.

He besides spoke of his relation successful the Augustinian Order. He was 30 erstwhile helium moved to Peru arsenic portion of an Augustinian mission.

Francis made him Bishop of Chiclayo successful Peru a twelvemonth aft becoming Pope.

He is good known to cardinals due to the fact that of his high-profile relation arsenic prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops successful Latin America which has the important task of selecting and supervising bishops.

He became archbishop astatine the aforesaid clip successful January 2023 and wrong a fewer months Francis made him a cardinal.

As 80% of the cardinals who took portion successful the conclave were appointed by Francis, it is not each that astonishing that idiosyncratic similar Prevost was elected, adjacent if helium was lone precocious appointed.

What are Pope Leo's views?

He volition beryllium seen arsenic a fig who favoured the continuity of Francis' reforms successful the Catholic Church.

Prevost is believed to person shared Francis' views connected migrants, the mediocre and the environment.

As cardinal, helium has not shied distant from challenging the views of US Vice-President JD Vance.

He reposted a station connected societal media level X which was captious of the Trump administration's deportation of a US nonmigratory to El Salvador, and shared a captious remark portion written astir a TV interrogation fixed by Vance to Fox News.

"JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't inquire america to fertile our emotion for others," work the post, repeating the header from the commentary connected the National Catholic Reporter website.

Although helium is an American, and volition beryllium afloat alert of the divisions wrong the Catholic Church, his Latin American inheritance besides represents continuity aft a Pope who came from Argentina.

The Vatican described him arsenic the 2nd pope from the Americas, aft Pope Francis, arsenic good arsenic the the archetypal Augustinian pope.

During his clip successful Peru helium has not escaped the intersexual maltreatment scandals that person clouded the Church, nevertheless his diocese fervently denied helium had been progressive successful immoderate attempted cover-up.

Before the conclave, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals successful the days earlier the conclave they emphasised the request for a pope with "a prophetic tone susceptible of starring a Church that does not adjacent successful connected itself but knows however to spell retired and bring airy to a satellite marked by despair".