Cardinal Robert Prevost: From a US citizen to an American citizen: His name and his first semester at the minor seminary of the Augustinians
As Cardinal Robert Prevost’s name was announced, a sound of shock rose up. The new pope is from the US, which was a surprise to most people.
The minor seminary of the Augustinians was where he spent a significant amount of time. He was able to obtain a degree in mathematics at Villanova University. He pursued a degree in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
The new pope was born in Chicago in 1955, according to Vatican News. His father is of French and Italian descent, while his mother is of Spanish descent.
The College of Cardinal Report, a resource created by the Vatican journalists, states that Francis and Leonard share some of the same priorities in dealing with the environment and outreach to migrants and the poor.
The World Needs a Pope. Pope Leo XIV at the Gates of Heaven – His First Address to the World
On Thursday, the new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and delivered a short speech. His opening words were, “Peace be with all of you!”
“My message of peace will enter your hearts, reach your families and all people, wherever they are,” commented the pontiff. During his address, he spoke in Italian, Spanish and Latin.
The United States became the first country to have a pontiff when Cardinal Prevost was elected pope. The 69-year-old chose the name Pope Leo XIV. He told the congregation on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica that he wanted his message to reach everyone, regardless of where they are. From the moments before the white smoke signaled a newly elected pope to Pope Leo’s first speech, NPR’s Ruth Sherlock was there, watching it all unfold.
The capital of Italy, Vatican City. The crowd of tens of thousands of people erupted in cheers after hearing the words “Habemus papam!”.
The world waited for a Latin announcement with the name of the new pope, and soon the crowd in St Peter’s Square fell to a silent silence.
There was speculation that the new pope could come from the Global South because of the number of cardinals from all over the world.
“The last thing I imagined was an American pope,” said Daniel Runde, 21, a Catholic from the United States who was in St. Peter’s Square with two friends.
Christ is there before us. Pope Francis said in his first address to the world that the world needed his light. The bridge to be reached by God and his love is needed by humanity. Help us, too, and help each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with meetings, uniting us all to be one people, always in peace.”
There is a sense among some that an American pope — who leads a church that includes Catholics across the globe — could tip the balance of power even more toward the United States.
What is the next step for the new pope and how does it affect the future of the Universe, and what do we need to do about it?
“I thought it was really cool that he spoke in Spanish for a little bit as well,” said Runde. “It just alludes to how open he may be and reaching all corners of the Earth and not leaving some behind — like continuing what Francis did.”
In the coming months, faithful and secular alike will be watching to find out what direction the new pope will go and to understand what his priorities are.
“I think he looked like a person who was going to crush it” said Gleason, “but I don’t know for sure.”
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The U.S. and China Trade Negotiations Start: What Does That Mean for the Economy? — Pope Leo XIV and his Views
Trade negotiators from the U.S. and China will hold their first face-to-face talks since President Trump returned to the White House in Switzerland this weekend. Goods from China are taxed up to 245%. Some older tariffs were put on top of by Trump. The US has a tariffs on goods going to China. This weekend’s meeting comes after Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer reached a deal yesterday to lift some tariffs on British goods.
Republicans in swing districts insist they won’t support a plan to strip Medicaid benefits. The division has become a problem for Trump’s bill. Restructuring Medicaid, the federal health care program for poor, elderly and disabled Americans, is one of the clearest ways conservatives can achieve their deep spending cut goals. To get the bill through Congress, House Republicans are working with a budget blueprint that requires them to find $1.5 trillion in cuts to help offset the cost of expanding the president’s 2017 tax cuts.
A 25% drop in crude oil prices since January has caused a decrease in gas prices. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark for crude oil, fell from a high of around $80 per barrel in mid-January to just under $60 this week. Prices have dropped to a point where, on average, U.S. producers find it unprofitable to drill new wells. Here’s a breakdown of what is impacting oil prices and what that means for the economy:
🍿 Movies: Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reunite for a wedding in Capri in Another Simple Favor, which is filled with murder, deceit and fashionable looks.
What do citrus trees tell us about history and culture? (WBUR) Books: A Taste of Succession, The Lost Recordings, and an Odd Surprise from Katie Goh
📚 Books: In Katie Goh’s memoir, Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange, she unravels the multitudes the citrus fruit contains in tandem with mythologies of colonialism, inheritance and identity. Here are four other notable books that hit bookstores this week.
Imagine That: The Lost Recordings is a new album and it was made by the late Patsy Cline, who helped create Nashville’s sound in the 1960s. (WBUR)
🎭 Theater: Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy on Succession, has been nominated for a Tony Award for playing 26 characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway.