To the joyful surprise of many Catholics across South Florida, the new pope is American — one who served the church as a missionary and bishop for decades in Peru and speaks Spanish with native fluency.
Cardinal Robert Prevost — who was born in Chicago and became the first pontiff from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church — took the name Pope Leo XIV.
Most Vatican City watchers had considered him a long-shot and his election, just two days into a conclave of 133 cardinals, came as an unexpected but welcome milestone for many, including Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Read more at: www.miamiherald.com
