Leo downplays his Americanness to nab papacy

POPE Leo XIV made a “deliberate” move to downplay his Americanness that ultimately saw him win the race for the papacy, an expert has said.

- BY ANDERS ANGLESEY

Cardinals rapidly congregated around Chicago-born Robert Prevost, naming him the first American Pope in the Catholic Church's history.

Despite being widely considered to be a moderate who could satisfy both conservative and liberal wings in the Vatican, his Americanness was viewed as being a major stumbling block that could topple his chances even before the first ballot was cast.

But, remarkably, a brief conclave charged Pope Leo with leading the Catholic Church following the death of the influential Francis.

Dr Miles Pattenden, programme director at the Europeaum network of leading universities faculty of history, said Pope Leo's experience as an administrator had won him plaudits in the Vatican.

But his chances of ascending to the papacy were seen as limited due to his American background. Fortunately for Pope Leo, cardinals were also aware he had spent many years working among the poor in Peru and has been at the heart of the Vatican since being made cardinal by his predecessor Francis.