Pope Leo XIV Inaugural Address: ‘May Peace Be With You
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, 2025, becoming the 267th pope and the first ever from the United States in Catholic history. The conclave, which convened 133 cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel, reached consensus swiftly, with white smoke signaling his election on the second day of voting. Cardinal Prevost’s Background Born in Chicago and of Italian, French, and Spanish descent, Robert Prevost spent decades as an Augustinian missionary in Peru, later overseeing the Vatican’s office for episcopal appointments and earning a reputation as a skilled diplomat within the Curia. Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in January 2025, his moderate yet compassionate approach positioned him as a compromise candidate able to bridge progressive and conservative factions. Highlights of the First Speech Greeting of Peace Upon emerging in white on the central balcony, Pope Leo XIV began simply, “Peace be with you,” echoing […]
