Ten facts about first American pope, Robert Francis
Robert Francis, an American cardinal, emerged as the new Catholic pontiff on Thursday, the second day of the conclave.
Mr Francis, who took the name Pope Leo XIV, polled the required two-thirds majority of votes in the election of the 267th pope, which commenced on Wednesday, featuring 133 cardinals from across the globe as electors.
The election followed the burial of Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who passed on Easter Monday at 88.
Below are some facts about Pope Leo XIV
1. Pope Leo XIV is the first Catholic pope of American origin, born in Chicago.
2. Born on September 14, 1955. He is 68 years old.
3. Pope Leo XIV served as altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, South Side of Chicago.
4. In 1973, he completed his secondary education at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine in St. Louis.
5. Pope Leo XIV bagged a Bachelor of Science in mathematics at Villanova University in 1977.
6. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, by Jean Jadot.
7. From 2001 to 2013, he was the general of the Order of Saint Augustine.
8. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis two years ago on September 30, 2023.
9. Pope Leo XIV served as bishop of Chiclayo in Peru between 2015 and 2023.
10. Pope Leo XIV is a polyglot. He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese. He can also read Latin and German.
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