Peruvian media have enthusiastically welcomed the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope, highlighting his long-standing pastoral work in Peru. Commentators emphasize that although the newly elected Pope Leo XIV was born in the United States, he also holds Peruvian citizenship.
As reported by RPP News, Robert Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, has had ties to Peru since the 1980s, serving there as a missionary with the Order of St. Augustine. “He is deeply connected to Peru. He is one of us. He is Peruvian,” the station’s commentators said, noting that Prevost received his Peruvian national ID in August 2014.
The Lima-based daily El Comercio also pointed to the new pope’s strong ties with Peru, stressing that he held various roles there, from missionary to vice president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, as well as bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
“Robert Prevost today becomes the first pope who is both American and Peruvian, taking the name Leo XIV,” El Comercio wrote on Thursday, reminding readers of his service as bishop in northern Peru. The newspaper published archival photos of Pope Leo XIV from his years in Peru, including one striking image of him walking alone through a Peruvian street carrying a monstrance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The paper also noted that Prevost earned widespread respect in Peru, particularly for his closeness to ordinary people and his efforts to launch innovative youth initiatives.
According to the publication, the new pope has relatively limited ties to the American Church, as he began his ministry in Peru just three years after being ordained.