Chicago and the Peruvian city of Chiclayo celebrated the choice of Robert Prevost AS New pope. Prevost, 69 years old, who took the papal name of XIV LeoneHe has close ties with both, since he grew up in Chicago and then lived during decades in PeruFirst as a missionary and then as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.
After Double American citizen and Peruvian has been announced as the next leader of the Catholic Church Thursday eveningAfter four rounds of voting in the Conclave, people in the United States and Peru shared their joy. At the French school Xavier Warde in Chicago, Mary Perrotti, director of the promotion, said that his students were Euphoric for the elevation of a “native son” to the papacy.
“A deep sensation of connection”
“Our students are out of themselves. They are very enthusiastic and cannot believe that a citizen of Chicago is their new pope. They are amazed,” says Perrotti. “Our young people now have a Leader model With justice and compassion in the heart of his ministries, and this is from his city, “he added”. Is a deep sensation of connection For them “.
John Doughney, who studied the same year as Pope Leo XIV at school, remembered him as a “friend of all” and as a “young, affectionate and compassionate”. “Even when I was 12 and 13 years old, it was evident to all of us who I knew what his vocation was“He said.” We would have been surprised that he did not dedicate himself to the priesthood. We are very proud of him. “
Thousands of kilometers south of Chicago, people were happy with the news PeruBoth in Chiclayo and in the capital, Lima and in other places in the country. Pope Leo XIV can be the first leader of the Catholic Church born in the United States, but Peru, which gave him citizenship in 2015, also claims it as yours.
In his first speech as Pope from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro, he changed the Spaniards to wish the best to his former diocese. “Greetings to all, and in particular to My dear diocese of chiclayoIn Peru, where a faithful people accompanied his bishop, he shared his faith, “he said.
The Peruvian president Dina Boluarte suggested that his choice was a “historical moment” for Peru. “He chose to be one of us, to live among us and bring the faith, culture and dreams of this nation to his heart,” he said, stressing that he was a Peruvian citizen For “choice and conviction”. The bells of the Lima Cathedral They played after meeting their victory. “For us, the Peruvians, they are A pride This is a Pope who represents our country, “said Professor Isabel Panez.” We would like to visit us here in Peru, “he added.
