The First Pope from the United States Elected: Robert Prevost, Taking the Name Pope Francis XIV, Controversial Handling of Gender Diversity and Church Scandals
133 Cardinals Gathered for Papal Election
Starting from May 7, 133 Cardinals convened at the Sistine Chapel for the papal election. According to reports from Vatican News, the 267th Pope was finally elected after the fourth round of voting. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 PM local time on the evening of the 8th. The gathered crowd in St. Peter’s Square expressed excitement as Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the chief deacon, announced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica that we have a new pope.
Centuries of Secret Conclave Tradition
The new pope is elected through a secret conclave, a tradition that has spanned a century. The term ‘conclave’ originates from the Latin word ‘cumclave’ (locked with a key), symbolizing strict isolation from the outside world to ensure a fair election. The papal election is conducted by a group of cardinal bishops. Among the 252 cardinal bishops, 133 are under the age of 80. According to regulations, only cardinals under 80 are eligible to participate in the election, referred to as cardinal electors.
During voting, cardinal electors write their preferred candidate’s name on the ballot. If no one is elected after the first round of voting on the afternoon of the first day, a maximum of four rounds of voting can be conducted each day starting the next day, until the second round in the afternoon.
The election condition is that if a candidate receives two-thirds of the total votes, they are elected as the new pope. After each vote, if no one meets the required threshold, a maximum of four rounds of voting can occur each day until a new pope is elected.
First American Pope with Different Views on Gender Diversity
The new pope has been confirmed as American bishop Robert Francis Prevost, who is the 267th pope of the Catholic Church and the first pope from the United States. Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago and is currently 69 years old. He began his career with the Augustinian Order locally and has served in Peru, holding roles as a parish priest, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. The former pope, Francis, appointed him as a cardinal in 2023.
The New York Times previously introduced Robert Francis Prevost in an article titled “There Has Never Been a Pope from the U.S.; Can This Cardinal Change That?” The report described him as similar to Francis in his care for the poor and immigrants, as well as in his interpersonal interactions. He has stated, “A bishop should not be a little prince sitting in a kingdom.” He believes church leaders should be sincere, humble, and close to the people they serve, sharing in their struggles.
While Pope Francis is known for his inclusivity towards the LGBTQ+ community, the New York Times report also pointed out that Robert Francis Prevost’s views on LGBTQ+ individuals are less accommodating. In 2012, he lamented in a speech that Western media and popular culture fostered “sympathy for beliefs and behaviors contrary to the Gospel,” mentioning “homosexual lifestyles” and “alternative families composed of homosexual partners and their adopted children.”
During his tenure as a bishop in Peru, he opposed gender awareness education, stating, “Promoting gender ideology is confusing because it attempts to create genders that do not exist.” Additionally, he faced controversy for allowing a priest, who had been accused multiple times of sexually abusing boys, to reside near a Catholic elementary school, leading some to believe that the priest posed a significant threat to children.
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