✟

🅿️🅾️🅿️E

Robert Prevost - who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - has been named by the Vatican as the first ever American leader of the Catholic Church.

The 69-year-old, from Chicago, spent many years as a missionary in Peru.

Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church, giving Prevost a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.

In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals, suggesting he would at least be Francis’ choice in any future conclave.

There has long been a taboo against a US pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere.

But Prevost, a Chicago native, could be a first because he’s also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th-century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job, he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics.

Ever since he arrived in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he is well known to the men who count.

Prevost’s comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals don’t want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades.

The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, remembers the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.

“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humour and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.

The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903.

That Leo softened the church’s confrontational stance toward modernity, especially science and politics and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism.

🙏

✟

the world alweighs needs a good Pope

The new Pope, Leo XIV, has called in his first Mass at the Vatican for the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith.

Speaking the day after he was elected as the 267th Pope and first US leader of the Church, he warned that people were turning away from faith and instead to "technology, money, success, power, or pleasure".

Leo said he had been elected to be a "faithful administrator" of a Church that would act as a "beacon that illuminates the dark nights of this world".

The ascension of Robert Francis Prevost has been celebrated by the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, with joyous outbursts in his US homeland and in Peru, where he served for 20 years.

In his sermon on Friday, the new Pope said there were many settings where the Christian faith was considered "absurd" - with power, wealth, and technology dominating - but it was precisely there that missionary outreach was needed.

"A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society," he said in the address delivered in Italian.

Pope Leo, 69, wore a white papal robe trimmed in gold as he addressed the seated cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, an event broadcast live by the Vatican administration.

In an unscripted introduction before the homily, Leo also called on Church unity from his cardinals, telling them in American-accented English: "I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me".

Who is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ln80lzk7ko

Pope Leo on top form

Pope Leo XIV marks new beginning for Catholic Church

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgrwy5pyyjo

Love Pope Leo XIV

love how MAGA who r eether h8 of Catholics ore the rong tipe of Catholics r upset the Pope preachies humanity n bein nice

The founder of the Kwik Fit garage chain, Sir Tom Farmer, has died at the age of 84.

The Edinburgh-born businessman died peacefully at his home in the city on Friday, his family said.

He built the company into the world's biggest independent tyre and automotive chain, selling it to Ford for £1bn in 1999.

Sir Tom owned a majority stake in Hibernian FC for 28 years, selling his interest in the club in 2019.

Sir Tom was born in Leith in 1940 and first opened a tyre business in 1964.

He started Kwik Fit in 1971, eventually operating in more than 2,000 locations in 18 countries.

He was knighted in 1997 for his services to the automotive industry and was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2009 for his charitable work.

A statement from his family said: "Sir Tom's long and extensive career touched many aspects of Scottish and UK life.

"His business career is well documented, as was his commitment to philanthropy, his many public roles and his unwavering support and appreciation for the communities and people that he lived his life within."

Sir Tom's philanthropic work saw him awarded the Carnegie Medal and he became a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, an honour bestowed by the Pope, in 1997.

"Sir Tom's Roman Catholic faith was present throughout all areas of his life. He attended mass weekly in Edinburgh and enjoyed the friendship and company of many people with the Catholic community both here in Scotland and further afield," his family said.

"Sir Tom will be remembered by many for his deep commitment to his family, his work and his faith and for being at all times a proud Scotsman," they added.

A statement from Hibernian on the social media platform X said:

"Hibernian FC are devastated to hear of the passing of former owner Sir Tom Farmer, aged 84.

"Thank you for everything, Tom. Rest in peace."

First Minister John Swinney wrote: "Very sorry to hear of the death of Sir Tom Farmer, an outstanding entrepreneur and such a generous individual to so many causes in Scotland.

"My respect condolences to his family."

10 years since last Tyke Fifa Tournament.

Confused by the numbers on your fridge's temperature dial? The numbers relate to how much power the fridge is using. So the rule is always the same: the higher the number, the colder the fridge.

Arsenal TV was a sports television channel devoted to coverage of the English football club Arsenal F.C. Until June 2009, it was a part of the Setanta Sports package and was similar to Setanta's other channels Celtic TV, Rangers TV and LFC TV.

Arsenal TV has been continued in the way of its successors being Arsenal's Web Player and Arsenal on YouTube.

Cardinal reveals what it was like to be part of conclave

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz63wgxe1vlo

Pope Leo XIV appealed for "no more war" in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.

Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a "lasting peace" in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday's agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.

He said he was "deeply hurt" by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a "lasting accord" between India and Pakistan, and wished for a "authentic, true and lasting peace" in Ukraine.

The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter's Square.

Pope Leo was chosen as the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, following a two-day conclave in Vatican City and the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

On Saturday, he visited a shrine outside Rome and then prayed before Francis' tomb inside the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Pope Leo will be formally inaugurated at a mass in St Peter's Square next week on 18 May.

Speaking from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, he said: "The immense tragedy of the Second World War ended 80 years ago… now we're facing the tragedy of a third world war in pieces.

"I would also like to address the powerful people of the world, repeating the always-current call: 'no more war'."

The pontiff continued: "I carry in my heart the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people.

"May whatever is possible be done to reach an authentic, true and lasting peace as quickly as possible. May all the prisoners be freed. May children return to their families.

"And I am deeply hurt by what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

"May a ceasefire immediately come into effect. May humanitarian aid be allowed into the civilian population and may all hostages be freed."

He went on: "I was happy to hear on the other hand that there was a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and I hope that through the coming negotiations we might soon come to a lasting accord."