The choice of Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the church's focus on global issues and the shift in the dynamics

Lynchburg, Va. (WSET) – The selection of Cardinal by Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American, as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, made history after only two days and four voices. He chose the name Pope Leo XIV.

Matthew Gabriele, professor at the Department of Religion and Culture in Virginia Tech, said that the selection of the cardinal shows a possible change in the church.

In my opinion, the selection of the first Pope from North America is really groundbreaking, especially after Francis, the first, his predecessor, also from America, from South America, “said Gabriele. And to many different places around the world.

Gabriele said he was initially surprised by her decision.

“It surprised many people; I surprised the selection. I think there was always the feeling that the Americans have an oversized influence, somehow all possible cultural, political, social ways, and so the selection of an American Pope could be something that the cardinals would not be ready,” he said. “However, it should not be lost that many career from Cardinal Prevost, Leo, the career of the fourteenth, before his Pope, was in Peru. He was in contact with Latin America.

During his time as Cardinal, Gabriele said that Pope Francis was very close to the late Pope Francis.

He was increased several times by Francis in the ranks of the church and became a close confidant. So he was seen by insiders as a potential successor, someone whom Francis wanted to continue his legacy, “he said. We have not yet seen what he will do now, where he is installed in the papacy, but he seems to be very obliged to do a large part of the work that has done Francis himself, and expanded to many of the same directions that moved Francis.

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Gabriele said the choice of the Pope could give us an insight into the lead.

“Leo of the thirteenth, who ruled at the end of the 19th century, was known as the Pope of the workers. In addition, one of the first to turn to marginalized communities was the people who suffered from industrialization, from industrialization, factory workers, the poor and things.” In addition to his earlier work and proximity to Franziskus Care for population groups in need of protection. The work of the pastoral care of the communities, the people who are actually out there live their lives as Catholics and as humans as Catholics and good. “

As the first American Pope of religion, Gabriele said that the selection was important in a time of global fear and unrest.

At the moment it is impossible to know what the cardinals thought, but I would not be surprised if that were absolutely in your thoughts. Cardinal Prevost was an American, but from a completely different religiosity than even Vice President Vance, who is also a Catholic, ”he noticed.” People combed through Cardinal Prevost social media and some time ago a tweet from some time ago to rebuild his comments on his wish for the desire to deal with the compass. Prevost said: “No, compassion and empathy are the core of Catholic social teaching.” I think this is likely that you want someone who can be a moral voice and during this time very great political and cultural unrest that can be given by some of the concerns of what President Trump and Vice President Vance do in the world order.

He noticed that Cardinal Prevost is a relatively young choice at only 69 years.

“It is really interesting to see the processes and their selection. I think people expected how I locked, a kind of longer selection process … But they are actually pretty quick,” he said. “People speculated that Francis had a relatively long reign, that they might want to have more transition, someone who is a little older in this position, but this was a reproduction to this way of thinking. It will be interesting if we see another conclave in the next 20 to 30 years, based on how things went as far.”