Peruvians are elated after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country was elected pope and hoped he will visit them soon in his new role.

Philadelphia woman confirmed by Pope Leo XIV in Peru says she prays for pontiff daily 02:01. As the world looks to the future under newly elected Pope Leo XIV, one woman in Philad

Janinna Sesa worked alongside Pope Leo XIV in Chiclayo, Peru from 2015 until 2023. She spoke with NPR about his leadership in times of crisis.

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, described Pope Leo as Peruvian "by choice and conviction". "The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," she said. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent.

In the small Peruvian town of Eten, the faithful flock every year to celebrate an apparent 17th century miracle featuring images of the child Jesus, a sacred phenomenon not yet recognized by the Vatican.

But in Peru, he is known as the saintly missionary who waded through ... one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.On Thursday, Prevost ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first pontiff from the United States.Pope Leo XIV, 69, had to ...

In Peru, he served as a prior ... Despite being elevated to one of the most powerful offices within the Catholic Church, Leo insisted that his identity remained rooted in service.

Standing on loggia of St. Peter’s basilica, newly elected Pope Leo XIV smiled, waved and appeared to hold back emotion May 8 as he introduced himself to the world as the 266th successor to St. Peter – the first American to hold that role. His first words: “Peace be with you!”