Pope Leo XIV Elected as 267th Leader of Roman Catholic Church

TaiwanPlus News

Catholics worldwide are celebrating the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American to fill the role, and has strong ties to Latin America.

Transcript

00:00Elation among crowds outside the Vatican as white smoke rises from the Sistine

00:07Chapel and the bells of St. Peter ring out, signalling a new Pope has been

00:12elected. Dad, the white smoke, I'm going to see the Pope. I'm here at the Vatican

00:19and I'm going to see the Pope. I'm speechless and with no more voice. I'm happy.

00:25It's the beginning of a new life. It's a new time coming that does not tire of man.

00:31Minutes later, U.S. Cardinal Robert Provost was revealed as the 267th leader of the Roman

00:37Catholic Church. It comes after two days of deliberation between 133 cardinals in conclave

00:43in Vatican City and one failed vote. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, he was greeted by cheers

00:53as he made his first appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the new pontiff

00:58thanking his predecessor Pope Francis and repeating his calls for peace.

01:02Doviamo cercare insieme come essere una chiesa missionaria, una chiesa che costruisce i ponti,

01:11il dialogo, sempre aperta a ricevere come questa piazza con le braccia aperte a tutti, tutti

01:20coloro che hanno bisogno della nostra carità, la nostra presenza, il dialogo, l'amore.

01:26Born in Chicago, 69-year-old Provost becomes the first American to fill the role of Pope.

01:32Although he's considered as much a cardinal from Latin America, with Peruvian nationality,

01:37and because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru, the former leader of

01:41the Augustinian Order was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. His time in the Catholic

01:47Church hasn't been without controversy, accused of concealing sexual abuse.

01:52But in Chiklaio, where he served as a bishop and across the U.S., faithful as celebrating

01:57his papacy.

02:01I am very excited and blessed by the election of the new Pope, especially because he is from

02:06Chiklaio. My son and I came because he is happy and joyful. We know what kind of person

02:12Provost is. We know that he will continue much of Pope Francis' legacy.

02:17I feel a connection also because he's a Cubs fan.

02:19Despite a history of criticizing U.S. policies under President Donald Trump and Vice President

02:30J.D. Vance on social media, Trump has called Provost's election a great honor.

02:36Leaders across the globe are also sending their congratulations and well wishes.

02:40Taiwan President Lai Ching-da saying Taiwan hopes to continue working with the Vatican to

02:45pursue peace, justice and religious freedom. Comments echoed by Australian Prime Minister

02:50Anthony Albanese.

02:52This is a moment which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere. May the papacy of Pope

02:59Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity.

03:05Viewed as a centrist, much remains to be seen about Pope Leo and the direction he will take

03:09the Catholic Church. He shares beliefs with the late Pope Francis on helping migrants and

03:14acting against climate change. But his stance on equality for women in the church and LGBTQ

03:20plus rights have been questioned.

03:22After emphasizing the need for peace in his first address, analysts believe he will follow

03:27in the footsteps of Francis, focusing on making change in social justice issues.

03:32I think that we're going to see this new Pope continue Pope Francis's initiatives towards

03:37economic justice and against sort of the privations of globalization.

03:42As Pope Leo steps into his new position, he will serve 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

03:49And as news of his appointment spreads to faithful across the globe, the future of the Catholic

03:54Church is in his hands. Ryan Wu and Rosie Greninger for Taiwan Plus.

04:02Thank you for joining us.

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