In 2000, the first American pope in Catholic history was born. The United States, as the world's strongest nation, has exercised immense influence over various countries worldwide in politics, economics, and culture. Therefore, it has long been considered taboo for the Vatican to elect an American as pope, but that long-standing taboo was broken with the election of Pope Leo XIV.
According to the Associated Press, Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as the 267th pope on the 8th (local time), is a native-born American. He was born in 1955 in Chicago and joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977. He obtained a Bachelor of Science from Villanova University in Philadelphia and a Master of Theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In response, a wave of congratulations swept across the United States. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media, "I am truly honored to learn that he is the first American pope," adding, "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV."
However, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes his identity as a clergyman formed in Peru rather than his identity as an American. As a young man, he was sent as a missionary and spent a long time serving in Peru. Later, he was appointed as the administrator of the Chiclayo Diocese in Peru, having gained the trust of Pope Francis. The following year, he also acquired Peruvian nationality. Subsequently, he returned to the Vatican in 2023 as the Commissioner of the Latin American Papal Commission.
Immediately after his papal inauguration, Pope Leo XIV began his speech in Italian, stating, "Peace be with you all" (La pace sia con tutti voi), and he spoke in Spanish and Latin. In particular, he greeted in Spanish and mentioned Peru directly. He said, "To all, especially my beloved Chiclayo Diocese of Peru, who have devoted much to sharing faith with the bishop and becoming a faithful church of Jesus Christ." No English was used in the speech.
The British daily Telegraph quoted Vatican sources as saying that Pope Leo XIV is "the least American American."
According to the Associated Press, as the election of Pope Leo XIV was announced, bells rang in the cathedral in Lima, the capital of Peru, celebrating his election. Citizens gathered outside the cathedral expressed their hope for a papal visit to Peru. Citizens reacted by saying, "We are proud that the pope represents our country" and "We hope the pope will surely visit us in Peru."
However, the fact that he is American-born is still expected to have a significant impact on American religious circles, according to foreign media. The election of Pope Leo XIV is anticipated to have a major influence on a divided American Catholic community between conservatives and progressives. For the past 12 years, Pope Francis has focused on countering traditionalist trends in the U.S. through Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Now, his successor has ascended to the head of the Catholic Church.
Natalia Imperatori, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Manhattan College in the United States, evaluated, "This election is a sign of a deep commitment to social issues," adding, "We will see a new form of American Catholicism in Rome."