Leo XIV, the American-born pope with a Latin soul who moved the world

White smoke, a new pope, and the crowd erupted in jubilation from St. Peter's Square , where more than 50,000 faithful were watching intently as the chimney in the Sistine Chapel signaled that the 133 cardinals gathered there had finally elected the new supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church.

Leo XIV: with that name, the 69-year-old American Robert Prevost accepted the task of leading one of the most important religious institutions in the world, with 1.4 billion faithful. The decision was swift, as expected. In just four ballots, the third of the day, the cardinals had already given their verdict, repeating a trend that was present in the last two conclaves: Benedict XVI was elected on the fourth ballot, and Francis on the fifth. However, the white smoke, which began to rise earlier than expected, at 6:07 p.m. yesterday, Rome time (11:07 a.m. in Colombia), took more than a few by surprise, and St. Peter's, which was half full, quickly filled with fervent believers, who even occupied the Via della Conciliazione (main entrance to the square), hoping to catch a glimpse of the new pope.

Hours earlier, the world had already seen the results of the day's first two votes, with a black smoke that also appeared earlier than expected, foreshadowing what was to come next and revealing that voting in the Sistine Chapel was progressing at a good pace.

But the revelation of the new pope’s face and name took more than an hour, finally arriving at 7:23 p.m. (12:23 p.m. in Colombia). As tradition dictates, it was the protodeacon, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti , who stepped out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to pronounce the long-awaited Latin phrase “ Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam! ” (“I bring you great joy: we have a pope!”).

Once again, the crowd rose in songs of joy, while flags from countries around the world were waved and chants were heard in many languages ​​exclaiming, “Long live the Pope!”

Finally, Cardinal Robert Prevost, who had been Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops during the papacy of Francis (a senior Church official charged with being the Pope's principal advisor in the appointment of new bishops), was announced as Leo XIV.

In recent days, his name had been heard loudly in the corridors of the Vatican, although he was not seen as a big favorite (as was the case with the Italians Mateo Zuppi and Pietro Parolini, or the Filipino Antonio Tagle ).

His profile was notable for his closeness to Francis and, like his predecessor, a member of a religious community after having served as Superior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, unlike John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who were diocesan. And although he is the first American to hold the position, his past as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, the country of which he was granted nationality, has led him to be identified as a priest "with a Latin heart."

Behind the scenes, Prevost, before becoming Leo XIV, had to go through the proper rites: the dean of the College of Cardinals asked him in Latin, “Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?” (Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?). He was then taken to the Room of Tears, a small room where, after a brief prayer, he was dressed in the symbols that identify him as the heir of Saint Peter.

And, unlike his predecessor, the new pope did wear during his presentation the vestments that Francis had renounced as a sign of humility, such as a red mozzetta with white trim on his shoulders, as well as a papal stole richly embroidered in shades of gold and dark brown.

Once on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Leo XIV spoke his first words before the thousands of faithful in the Vatican and the millions watching from all over the world.

"Peace be with you all" was his first utterance. Peace and dialogue were the focus of his first speech, giving the first signs of what is expected of his pontificate.

“Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting from the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I too hope that this greeting of peace may reach your hearts (...) and reach you wherever you are, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you all,” he said, as is tradition, in Italian.

And he added: “This is the peace of the risen Christ, a disarming, humble, and persevering peace that comes from God... Evil will not prevail.”

His speech, marked by words of gratitude toward Pope Francis and a call to "build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, uniting all of us to be one people, always at peace," was in line with what days before the conclave was seen as a determining factor in the choice of the Supreme Pontiff: a priest who would continue the work of the Argentine, but capable of restoring unity in a Church increasingly divided between factions that were widely critical of the previous papacy.

And one of the highlights was when, from one moment to the next, he switched languages ​​to speak in Spanish, recalling his more than 40 years of mission in Peru: “If you will also allow me a word, a special greeting to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith, and given so much, so much, to continue being the faithful Church of Jesus Christ,” he expressed, while he seemed deeply moved and, at times, his voice broke.

After his speech, the new pope, as his first formal act in office, pronounced the Urbi et Orbi blessing, which confers a plenary indulgence on those present and those who hear it through the media.

MATEO CHACÓN ORDUZ | Deputy Editor, Today's Life