An American Pope who sympathises with the poor

The election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new head of the 1.4 billion-strong Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday was swift and smooth.

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The conclave of cardinals deliberated for two days before they chose Prevost, who had worked in Peru for many years as the successor to Pope Francis who had passed away in April at the age of 88.

Cardinal Prevost has chosen to be called Leo XIV. He belongs to the Order of St. Augustine even as his predecessor Francis belonged to the Society of Jesus, also known as Jesuits. The question on everyone’s mind was who will succeed Pope Francis who had brought in extraordinary qualities of moral leadership, and reached out to people across faiths. It is too early to say what will be the worldview of Pope Leo XIV.

The initial curiosity about him will be about him being an American. The question is certain to crop up as to what kind of an American he is, and whether his American roots will shape his papacy.