The conclave to elect a new pope took only two days and four rounds of voting to select the new pontiff—Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago, USA, who became the first pope in history from the United States. Public attention has focused on several aspects of his background. First, his American nationality immediately brings to mind figures like Washington and Lincoln, but also the current US president, Donald Trump, who is known for recently imposing significant trade tariffs on various countries and for his domineering personality.
However, he is not entirely American by heritage: Pope Leo XIV, has French, Italian, and Spanish ancestry. After his ordination, he was sent to work in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru, in South America. In 1988, he was assigned to Trujillo, Peru’s third-largest city, where he served in impoverished suburbs for nine years, engaging in pastoral work alongside the vulnerable, demonstrating humility and devoid of any arrogance—completely unlike his country’s leader.
The second point of interest is whether Pope Leo will continue the unfinished work of his predecessor, Pope Francis, particularly the Synod on Synodality. Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., of Hong Kong, who voted at the conclave, spoke in a video interview from the Vatican on May 9, noting that both he and many cardinals were delighted to hear the new pope mention “walking together” in his first address to encourage everyone to “move forward courageously” and to embrace marginalised groups, which he deemed very significant.
The relationship between the Vatican and China is another topic of widespread interest. Since his episcopal ordination, Cardinal Stephen has worked tirelessly to position Hong Kong as a “bridge Church” between the universal Church and Beijing to connect two otherwise disconnected entities.
In the interview, he shared that the new pope has visited China and is familiar with its culture. He also agrees with his predecessor’s approach to the Church in China, emphasising a path of communication and dialogue. Cardinal Stephen added that, following the example of John Cardinal Tong Hon, who had presented a statue of Our Lady of Sheshan to Pope Francis, he gifted Pope Leo XIV with a small statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, inviting him not to forget the Church and people of China. In response, the new pope nodded in agreement.
The cardinal added that, depending on the pope’s needs, the Diocese of Hong Kong would “build bridges and pave roads” between the universal Church and Beijing within its capacity.
According to Vatican News, the new pope chose the name Leo XIV as a tribute to Pope Leo XIII, particularly for his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which pioneered modern Catholic social teaching. In these turbulent times, may we humbly equip ourselves with empathy to help, accompany, and listen to marginalised communities, walking alongside the poor and the vulnerable. SE
