May 19, 2025
Shortly after white smoke poured from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, we were stunned to learn that the man who emerged on the balcony overlooking the St. Peter’s Square, Cardinal Robert Prevost, was not only the first pope in history from North America, but he was born and raised right here in Chicago!
Born at Mercy Hospital in 1955, he served as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption in far South Side Riverdale. Ordained a priest in 1982, he spent years serving as a missionary in Peru and was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru by Pope Francis in 2014. The Pope named Prevost a cardinal in 2023 and appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
Upon becoming the 267th occupant of the Chair of St. Peter, Prevost took the name Leo XIV in homage to Pope Leo XIII, who authored the seminal encyclical on labor rights and Catholic social doctrine, Rerum Novarum, in 1891.
His first words as our new pope, were “Peace be with you all.” In his short address, he paid tribute to our dear departed Holy Father Pope Francis before saying “we must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms.” Outlining his vision for the church, he said “we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks together, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always tries to be close especially to those who suffer.”
The new pope concluded by asking for our prayers. “Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask this special grace from Mary, our Mother.”
Please join the Mercy Home family in prayer for our new Holy Father and hear his call for prayers for our church.
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