The historic election of the first American pope initially stirred unease among Roman Catholics worldwide. But Pope Leo XIV quickly dispelled concerns by presenting a deeply multicultural and multilingual identity that transcended national boundaries.
When the newly elected pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he chose to speak in Spanish rather than English, intentionally distancing himself from conventional American identity. Born in Chicago, with Creole roots, Pope Leo spent decades in Peru, holds dual citizenship, and is fluent in multiple languages — a profile that positioned him as a global rather than national figure.
Catholics across continents were quick to embrace him. In Paris, 33-year-old Julia Caillet, waiting outside Notre Dame Cathedral for a celebratory service, said, “He is a priest of the world… He considers himself American, but also Peruvian.”
At a time when the U.S. has taken a more isolationist stance under President Trump, many Catholics feared an American pope might bring that political baggage to the Vatican. But Pope Leo has so far reassured them by aligning himself with Pope Francis’s global advocacy — for peace, migrants, and the poor — rather than national interests.
Though more reserved than his predecessor, Pope Leo’s fond words for Peru have drawn comparisons to Francis’s Argentinian roots. Vatican News even framed him as the second pope “from the Americas,” not just from the United States. South Americans were eager to claim him as their own. “He is more Peruvian than American,” said Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil.
This sentiment resonated in Mexico, where entrepreneur Araceli Torres Hallal said it would have been “a cold slap in the face” if the pope had been “fully American.” His deep ties to Latin America — shaped through two decades of missionary work with the Order of St. Augustine — reassured her that he would stand in moral opposition to hardline immigration policies.
Even the term “American” itself stirred discomfort among some Latin Americans, who view it as an imperialist label when applied exclusively to U.S. citizens. For them, “American” includes everyone from the Americas — North, Central, and South.
The cardinals who elected Pope Leo were aware of the potential controversy. Most were appointed by Pope Francis and represented more countries than any previous conclave. Yet, after a deeply spiritual process, they chose Leo for his personal qualifications, not his nationality.
“In the end, the country of origin is not what matters most,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines. “It’s about who can truly serve the church.”
In the Philippines, where Cardinal Tagle had been a favorite, many have already embraced Pope Leo. Sister Mary John Mananzan, a Benedictine nun, praised his moral clarity, referencing social media posts under his name that condemned political misuse of Catholic doctrine.
In Kenya, Radio Waumini broadcaster Adelaide Ndilu said she was shocked to learn the new pope was American — and then thrilled when she learned about his diverse background and deep connection to Latin America. “We want a pope for all the people,” she said. “One who can reach the peripheries and challenge the status quo.”
Genealogists soon revealed that Pope Leo's lineage may also trace back to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and France, further cementing his image as a global figure. To many, his background mirrors the diverse tapestry of the modern Catholic Church.
French theologian Laurent Stalla-Bourdillon noted that Pope Leo’s mixed heritage felt natural: “That’s what America is — many origins, many migrations. A melting pot.”
But to those close to him, the most defining feature of Pope Leo’s identity may not be his nationality at all. Rather, it’s his life as an Augustinian — a religious order devoted to community and mission.
“He entered the Augustinians at 17,” said Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers. “When you join an order, national borders become secondary. You belong to a different reality.”
And that, perhaps more than anything, is what defines Pope Leo XIV: not as the first American pope, but as a truly universal one.
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