Habemus Papam

I semi-joked the other day about the Littoral Combat Ships before the old Pope died…well, this time it is serious. Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, IL will become the first North American-born pope in history, and will take the name Leo XIV.

Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955. His father, Louis Marius Prevost, a school administrator and World War II naval veteran, was of French and Italian descent; the family of his mother, Mildred Martinez, originally hailed from Spain. In addition to English, the new pope speaks Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese; he can read Latin and German.

Prevost is an Augustinian, meaning he belongs to a Catholic order known for its commitment to community and sharing. He is also the first Augustinian pope, according to the Vatican.

Prevost attended secondary school at an Augustinian seminary and officially joined the order in 1977, when he was 22. In between, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Villanova University. Five years later, Prevost was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and he traveled to the Augustinian College of Saint Monica in Rome to be ordained. Prevost later received a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Expect the ignorantoii who pass for journalists to list him as the “first American pope” – sorry, folks, the recently departed Francis was the first American (South – born in Argentina), the first Jesuit pope, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.

The speed with which the conclave nominated Prevost – er, Leo – denotes a pretty united college of cardinals – a vote of 2/3 majority of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote is needed. The longest conclave lasted almost three years, but that was in the 1300 – most modern conclaves have been relatively quick.

Prevost attended secondary school at an Augustinian seminary and officially joined the order in 1977, when he was 22. In between, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Villanova University. Five years later, Prevost was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and he traveled to the Augustinian College of Saint Monica in Rome to be ordained. Prevost later received a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Prevost went on to spend much of his adult life abroad. While preparing his doctoral thesis, he was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru. He returned to Peru in 1988 and spent the next 10 years leading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo; he also taught canon law, served as an ecclesiastical judge, and led his own congregation. He eventually became a naturalized citizen there.

From 1999 to 2014, Prevost worked in Chicago, where he first led the city’s Augustinian Province and then served two six-year terms as head of the Augustinians. Like other cardinals, he has been criticized for his dealings there with priests accused of sexual abuse.

Prevost returned to Peru in 2014; Pope Francis soon named him bishop. Until Francis’s death, Prevost “held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally,” according to the New York Times.

“We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,” he said, according to an English translation of his remarks, which were mostly in Italian. He also called on people to “show our charity” to others “and be in dialogue with love.”

“Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter. Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.”

Category: Society