On Thursday, white smoke blew from the pipe in the Sistine chapel in the Vatican. After four polls, Cardinal has agreed on a new pope: 69 -year -old Robert Francis Prevost. He has chosen the name Leo XIV – Leo the 14th election came as a surprise to many. North American Prevost was not on the list of the most likely candidates. Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP / NTB – A lot of excitement and possibility Prevost was born in Chicago, and is the first North American pope ever. He has worked for a long time in the Vatican and held important positions, but was not among the advance favorites. – It was so nerve -wracking to watch. Everyone that we thought could be a pope was not., Vivian Phan from Norway’s young Catholics to news. Vivian Phan, former head of Norway’s young Catholics Photo: Ismail Burak Akkan / news But an unknown name can be positive, she adds. – There is a lot of excitement and opportunity in not knowing him so well. We look forward to getting to know him and know more how to direction he wants to take the church further. “Peace be with you all,” Pope Leo XIV said as he greeted the people. Today, there are almost 1.4 billion Catholics in the world. Phan says she thinks, like the rest of the world, they need a message of hope. – There is a lot of turmoil and war. I think all Catholics need one longer with a clear message of peace that he came up with. – An “underdog” Morten Selle, chairman of the Friends Association for the St. Olav Salter in Rome, is in place at the Peter’s Square in the Vatican. He too was surprised by the announcement of prevost as a pope. – He is an underdog that no one has talked about a lot. Many people have thought that an American is completely excluded, but now it is a fact, he tells news. Prevost is described as a clear supporter of deceased Pope Frans. Here are the two together on a previous occasion. Photo: Tiziana Fabi / AFP / NTB – The choice of prevost can help calm the fronts of the Catholic Church in the United States. It must be one of the reasons they have chosen him. Selle says the new pope is concerned with culture and cultural issues. The parish priest Pål Bratbak also believes the Cardinals have chosen one that is not extreme in one or the other direction. Parish priest Pål Bratbak in Rome during Pope Frans’ funeral. Bratbak is also in Italy during the pope election. Photo: Anders Børringbo / news – I think we have a new peace spade. He also linked this to everything Pope Frans has contributed to peace in the world, says Bratbak to news. Fredrik Hansen, Bishop in Oslo, says he is pleased that the Catholic Church now has a new pope. Bishop Fredrik Hansen and deceased Pope Frans. Photo: katolsk.no – It’s great to have a pope back in place, and know that we Catholics have a hiring in the Vatican who will continue the church, he tells news. Ingrid Rosendorf Joys is Secretary General of Caritas Norway, the humanitarian organization of the Catholic Church. She tells news that they hope and believe Pope Leo XIV will continue the previous Pope’s efforts for social justice. – Pope Frans showed how the pope’s office can be a global moral voice. With Pope Leo XIV we hope that this role not only is preserved, but strengthened, she tells news. Trump: – An honor one of the heads of state who was early to congratulate the fresh pope was US President Donald Trump. – It is a great honor that he is the first American pope. I look forward to meeting him, it will be a very meaningful moment, says Trump. US President Donald Trump. Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP / NTB Also the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj regulated Pope Leo XIV with the election. He hopes that the Vatican will maintain a moral and spiritual support under his leadership. – At this decisive time for our country, we hope for continued moral and spiritual support from the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve lasting peace, Zelenskyj writes in a post on X. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Also the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, wants Pope Leo XIV success and hopes for constructive ties. Congratulations from all over the world Prevost were for many years a missionary in Peru, before becoming Archbishop in Chiclayo. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez congratulates the Catholic Church with a new pope at X. – Din Pontifier (means pope diploma) had to help strengthen the dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world that needs hope and unity, Sánchez writes. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Photo: Virginia Mayo / AP Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also congratulates the new pope. The pope “provides hope and guidance to millions of believers,” Merz writes. Poland President, Andrzej Duda, congratulates the newly elected Pope Leo XIV and praises a “special bond of spiritual unity” between Catholic Poland and the Church. Fredrich Merz, Germany’s new Chancellor. Photo: Ralf Hirschberger / AFP / NTB Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, also congratulates the newly elected pope. He says his country wants the prospects to stronger ties with the Vatican. – We look forward to strengthening the relationship between Israel and the holy chair, and strengthen the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world. May your pope’s office be of bridge building and understanding between all faiths and people, Herzog writes on X. Published 08.05.2025, at. 20.33 Updated 08.05.2025, at. 20.51
ttn-69
