The Prague Post - First US pope as Robert Francis Prevost becomes Leo XIV

EUR -
AED 4.166907
AFN 79.412775
ALL 98.002746
AMD 436.838634
ANG 2.030334
AOA 1040.307236
ARS 1300.455878
AUD 1.759791
AWG 2.042043
AZN 1.92898
BAM 1.956358
BBD 2.290073
BDT 138.150588
BGN 1.956046
BHD 0.427332
BIF 3331.366164
BMD 1.134468
BND 1.461839
BOB 7.836819
BRL 6.41544
BSD 1.134163
BTN 96.952502
BWP 15.223533
BYN 3.711661
BYR 22235.578685
BZD 2.278129
CAD 1.569588
CDF 3250.251514
CHF 0.935142
CLF 0.027899
CLP 1070.609174
CNY 8.17101
CNH 8.16921
COP 4733.3194
CRC 574.933437
CUC 1.134468
CUP 30.06341
CVE 111.178118
CZK 24.893615
DJF 201.617896
DKK 7.460598
DOP 67.163287
DZD 150.114023
EGP 56.595671
ERN 17.017025
ETB 152.708642
FJD 2.560946
FKP 0.848363
GBP 0.844334
GEL 3.097082
GGP 0.848363
GHS 13.556829
GIP 0.848363
GMD 81.681367
GNF 9819.957561
GTQ 8.706021
GYD 237.975232
HKD 8.884793
HNL 29.522112
HRK 7.535592
HTG 148.464457
HUF 402.917969
IDR 18534.943089
ILS 4.031361
IMP 0.848363
INR 97.105551
IQD 1485.744828
IRR 47789.47704
ISK 144.395658
JEP 0.848363
JMD 180.291379
JOD 0.804378
JPY 162.798467
KES 146.566857
KGS 99.209042
KHR 4540.053707
KMF 496.329333
KPW 1021.035538
KRW 1554.118898
KWD 0.347999
KYD 0.945119
KZT 578.244205
LAK 24521.691272
LBP 101619.885094
LKR 339.808336
LRD 226.832646
LSL 20.264607
LTL 3.34979
LVL 0.686228
LYD 6.216717
MAD 10.460373
MDL 19.615553
MGA 5078.178601
MKD 61.453383
MMK 2381.75675
MNT 4062.138866
MOP 9.145523
MRU 44.993137
MUR 51.550076
MVR 17.538536
MWK 1966.656444
MXN 21.9517
MYR 4.844429
MZN 72.483889
NAD 20.263803
NGN 1802.205172
NIO 41.742264
NOK 11.525575
NPR 155.124003
NZD 1.905837
OMR 0.436404
PAB 1.134163
PEN 4.173682
PGK 4.649284
PHP 63.091756
PKR 319.707019
PLN 4.2439
PYG 9059.182412
QAR 4.135142
RON 5.069028
RSD 117.297224
RUB 90.516171
RWF 1624.677073
SAR 4.255125
SBD 9.458213
SCR 16.129416
SDG 681.239113
SEK 10.840985
SGD 1.461796
SHP 0.891514
SLE 25.774756
SLL 23789.233264
SOS 648.15043
SRD 41.578448
STD 23481.203333
SVC 9.924916
SYP 14750.904198
SZL 20.269704
THB 37.068189
TJS 11.653405
TMT 3.976311
TND 3.385245
TOP 2.657042
TRY 44.06213
TTD 7.704788
TWD 34.051405
TZS 3068.736705
UAH 46.996279
UGX 4142.216959
USD 1.134468
UYU 47.243047
UZS 14623.038369
VES 107.415911
VND 29465.545162
VUV 137.616259
WST 3.142581
XAF 656.109277
XAG 0.033996
XAU 0.000342
XCD 3.065958
XDR 0.819254
XOF 656.143988
XPF 119.331742
YER 276.696136
ZAR 20.360025
ZMK 10211.575041
ZMW 30.84916
ZWL 365.29833
  • RBGPF

    4.2000

    67.2

    +6.25%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0100

    10.91

    -0.09%

  • CMSC

    -0.2100

    22.05

    -0.95%

  • NGG

    0.1500

    73.57

    +0.2%

  • RIO

    -0.2600

    61.98

    -0.42%

  • RELX

    0.1100

    55.1

    +0.2%

  • BP

    -0.3200

    28.88

    -1.11%

  • BTI

    0.0200

    44.46

    +0.04%

  • AZN

    -0.2400

    69.68

    -0.34%

  • GSK

    0.1400

    38.54

    +0.36%

  • SCS

    -0.2400

    10.01

    -2.4%

  • VOD

    0.0300

    10.42

    +0.29%

  • CMSD

    -0.3800

    21.79

    -1.74%

  • JRI

    -0.1000

    12.72

    -0.79%

  • BCC

    -2.5900

    87.33

    -2.97%

  • BCE

    -0.1900

    21.47

    -0.88%

First US pope as Robert Francis Prevost becomes Leo XIV

First US pope as Robert Francis Prevost becomes Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after cardinals from around the globe chose him to be the first leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics to hail from the United States.

Text size:

Tens of thousands of well-wishers cheered as Leo, successor to the late Pope Francis, appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to deliver the first address of his ministry.

"To all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole Earth, peace be with you," a smiling Leo told the crowd.

"Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace."

Leo's speech drew warm applause, especially a section where the prelate -- who spent many years in Peru -- broke into Spanish, and also when he paid tribute to his popular predecessor Francis, who died last month.

"We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous, voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome," he said, referring to the ailing Argentine's Easter Sunday address, a day before his death.

"We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which hold dialogues, which is always open," he said.

- 'Great honour' -

The 69-year-old Prevost had been talked about as among the "papabili" -- cardinals thought qualified for the papacy -- and as someone who could defend and further Francis's legacy.

But he was not a globally-recognised figure among the Catholic rank and file.

World leaders raced to welcome his election as the 267th pope and promise to work with the Church on global issues at a time of great geopolitical uncertainty.

Leo, who spent years as a missionary in Peru, now faces a momentous task. As well as asserting his moral voice on a conflict-torn world stage, he must try to unite a divided Church and tackle burning issues such as the continued fall-out from the sexual abuse scandal.

As Cardinal Prevost, the new pope had defended the poor and underprivileged and had reposted articles online critical of US President Donald Trump's anti-migrant policies, but the White House chief nevertheless welcomed the election.

"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named pope," Trump said in a post on his social media platform.

"It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country."

It was not known how many ballots it took to elect Leo XIV, but the conclave followed recent history in wrapping up in less than two days.

While the details of the election will forever remain secret, the new pope had to secure at least two-thirds of votes to be elected.

- 'Amazing' -

The crowds had swelled with emotion when white smoke billowed into the sky from the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday, signalling an election on the cardinals' second day of voting.

The bells of St Peter's Basilica and churches across Rome rang out and crowds rushed towards the square to watch the balcony of the basilica, fitted out with red curtains for the first address from the new pope, who was introduced in Latin.

"It's an amazing feeling," said an elated Joseph Brian, a 39-year-old chef from Belfast in Northern Ireland, who came with his mother to Rome for the spectacle.

"I'm not an overly religious person but, being here with all these people just blew me away," he told AFP as people around him jumped up and down in excitement.

There were euphoric scenes as one priest sat on someone's shoulders waving a Brazilian flag and another lifted a heavy crucifix into the air in jubilation.

- 'Habemus Papam' -

"Habemus Papam, woooo!" howled Bruna Hodara, 41, from Brazil, echoing the words to be spoken on the balcony as the new pope is introduced.

She, like others, recorded the historic moment on her phone, as others waved flags and cried out "Viva Il Papa!" -- "Long live the pope!" in Italian.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be here to see the pope. It's really special... I'm excited!" said Florian Fried, a 15-year-old from Munich, Germany.

The papal inauguration usually takes place less than a week after the election with a mass celebrated before political and religious leaders from around the world.

Ahead of that, Leo will lead a mass Friday for cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and recite the Regina Caeli prayer in St Peter's Square on Sunday.

He will also hold an audience for the world's media on Monday.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists Prevost's choice of papal name was "a clear reference to the social doctrine of the Church".

Francis died aged 88 after a 12-year papacy during which he sought to forge a more compassionate Church.

While he provoked anger from conservatives with his progressive approach, there had been many Catholics calling for a successor in his vein.

Some 80 percent of the cardinals who voted for Prevost were appointed by Francis.

With electors hailing from 70 countries around the world, it was the most international conclave ever.

Q.Pilar--TPP