Fri May 09 16:27:17 UTC 2025: ## American Cardinal Elected Pope, Promises to Heal a Divided World
**Vatican City** – In a historic first, Cardinal Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old American, has been elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first US-born pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history. He celebrated his first Mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, promising to lead the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide through what he called the world’s “dark nights.”
Pope Leo XIV, who also holds Peruvian citizenship, acknowledged the challenges facing the Church, including a perceived disconnect between faith and modern life, and the widespread societal issues linked to a lack of faith. He addressed criticisms that Christianity is seen as absurd or the domain of the weak, emphasizing the importance of faith in combating moral decline. He cautioned against reducing Jesus to a mere charismatic figure and highlighted the “practical atheism” even among baptized Christians.
His formal installation Mass will take place on May 18th, with a general audience following on May 21st. World and religious leaders are expected to attend the inauguration. While Pope Francis’s 2013 inauguration drew approximately 200,000 people, the scale of Leo XIV’s installation remains to be seen.
The new Pope will initially maintain the existing senior Vatican officials in their roles, allowing time for assessment before making any appointments. He inherits a complex legacy from Pope Francis, who passed away last month at age 88, including financial difficulties and ongoing debates about the Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, divorce, and the role of women within the Church.
Pope Leo XIV’s election is particularly significant given that US cardinals were previously considered unlikely candidates. However, his dual US-Peruvian citizenship provides him with a unique perspective bridging Western and Global South experiences.
First Piper 