Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is becoming history; he is the first pope from the United States of America.
Everyone has been making the same observation concerning Pope Leo’s outstanding American heritage and his peculiar delivery on that day.
On Thursday (8 May), the cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was appointed Pope Leo, thus becoming the 267th pontiff and his Chicago accent already managed to cause a stir on social media after his first speech as the new Bishop of Rome.
The unique voice of the 69 year old American was heard yesterday morning during the mass in the world, but what shocked people was the American accent.
One X user penned: The new Pope has shocked everyone with his/her accent of America, and he/she is speaking in English. What a jolt for me.”
A second chimed in: The Pope is reading in English; he has a strong American accent.
The idea of a pope speaking with an American accent is making me laugh in ways I didn’t anticipate. An X user chimed in, saying, “The idea of an American Pope is strange to me.”
A fourth declared: The very fabric of the Catholic Church has been contradicted with the emergence of an American-accented Pope.
A fifth user commented: “A Pope who talks with an American accent is interesting from a cultural point of view” and another agreed stating: “It is interesting to think about a Pope with an American accent from a cultural viewpoint”. I can’t hide that I feel awkward about the prospect of an American-accented pope.
Another X user commented: It’s hard to believe to me that a Pope would receive an American accent while reciting Latin. It’s horrible.”
As many argue, the Pope-elect embodies a balance perspective on modern Catholic ideas.
He also repeats many of the sentiments of his predecessor especially his firm crusade to help migrants and the poor and even publicly denouncing Donald Trump on his immigration policies.
Quoting a tweet he posted to condemn the US president, he stated:<< Both Christian, American, and morally acceptable, leading children away from their parents and putting them in cages is not. We are responsible for this, and we all should be ashamed of it.
Soon after the new papal election started, the College of Cardinals ended the process and appointed the successor for Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday (21 April).
For an individual to be the new pope, he/she is required to get a two thirds majority by each of the 133 cardinals at the secret conclave, as each cardinal submits his/her choice in secrecy.
What are Pope Leo’s beliefs?
Immigration
There are reports that the newly elected pope chose the name that invokes the tradition of Pope Leo XIII, who led an active social justice campaign, during a turbulent time of the industrial revolution, early Marxism, and large-scale immigration.
LGBTQ+ community
His position was raised in 2012, when he accused entertainment medi as showing sympathy for beliefs and practices that contradict to gospel principles; specifically, the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ and ‘alternative families comprising same-sex partners and their adopted children’. Whether he has altered his views on these matters remains a question.
Poverty
Pope Leo was once the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, a community of friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelisation.
It is speculated due to Pope Leo’s response to poverty as he also drew attention to the Church’s teaching on the issue.
Donald Trump
The previous statements made by the pope about the some of the actions made by Donald Trump have been re-published, which clearly indicates that he definitely does not support the former president.
A particularly hard-hitting tweet by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich that Pope Leo posted in 2018 is:<< He declared that an immigration policy that tears children away from their parents and puts them in cages is unfailingly un-Christian, un-American, and morally indefensible. This is being done in our name and each of us ought to share the shame.
Women in the church
When Pope Leo interviewed Vatican News in 2023: In various instances I have been able to observe that their view brings an addition to the discussion. With Pope Leo occupying his chair, people will be keen on examining his views regarding women’s roles in the Church, after supporting his predecessor’s decision to involve women in the Dicastery for Bishops which was for the first time.
Climate change
Pope Leo has made comments in recent times on climate change to note that it is time for actions to follow words.
