American Cardinal “Robert Perevoust” Elected as New Pope
Cardinal “Robert Perevoust” from the United States was elected as the new Pope on the second day of voting.
Last Thursday, May 8, which was the second day of voting in the Sistine Chapel, white smoke emerged from the chapel’s chimney, indicating the election of a new Pope. In this confidential meeting, the cardinals elected 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Perevoust, an American and the first American to become Pope. Upon his election as the new Pope, he chose the name “Pope Leo XIV” for himself.
After seeing the white smoke signaling the election of the new Pope, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica also rang out, and the approximately 40,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square began to celebrate the election of the new Pope. Following the Pope’s election, the cardinals gathered on both sides of the main balcony of the Vatican in front of the crowds in St. Peter’s Square, and the people, while expressing joy for the new Pope’s election, waited for his appearance on the balcony.
According to reports published by media outlets based in the Vatican, 133 cardinals from 70 countries around the world participated in the aforementioned voting, which represents a significant increase compared to 2013 when 115 cardinals from 48 countries participated.
Cardinal Robert, who was elected as the new Pope, was born in Chicago and is recognized as a reform-minded figure who worked for many years in Peru as a missionary before becoming a bishop and also holds Peruvian citizenship. He is also remembered as a popular figure who works with underprivileged and marginalized communities.
He has not yet announced his reason for choosing the name Leo XIV for himself, but the name “Leo” was also chosen by previous popes. The first Pope to choose this name was Pope Leo I, who was known by the title “Leo the Great.” He was the forty-fifth Pope in history and became known for his commitment to peace, serving as the leader of the church from 440 to 461 AD.
The last person to choose the name “Leo” was Pope Leo XIII, an Italian man with the baptismal name “Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci,” who was elected as the two hundred and fifty-sixth Pope in 1878. He dedicated himself to addressing social matters and achieving social justice.
Now the new Pope has also chosen the name “Leo,” which is considered one of the most popular papal names, and it has different pronunciations in various languages. From now on, he will be called Pope “Leone” by Italians, Pope “Léon” in French, and Pope “Leo” in English.
