VATICAN CITY – After he wave to crowd from di balcony for St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV return to di Sant’Uffizio Palace wey he don dey live for di last two months. Di new pope, wey formerly be Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, chop handshakes and congratulations as he enter di palace, and one young girl give am Bible to bless and sign. “Of course, I go try my new signature,” he talk as he dey smile.
Di 69-year-old na di first American pope wherever don take di name Leo XIV. But wetin go be di new pope’s agenda for di Catholic Church no too clear yet. As e begin reign, many people dey gree watch every small sign from wetin he dey wear to di kind place wey he wan sleep. For example, when Leo step out for di balcony, many commentators don notice di gold cross wey e wear wey shine for di evening light, a clear sign say he dey move away from di simple style wey di last pope, Francis, adopt.
Di homily wey Leo deliver inside di Sistine Chapel on Friday morning also show say di new pope go stick to tradition more than Francis. Austen Ivereigh, one Catholic writer, talk say, “Leo go align himself more closely with di tradition than Francis did.” Di next few days go give us more insight into di priorities of Leo reign. He dey set to meet di media on Monday, and later on di 18th of May, he go celebrate one serious inaugural mass for St. Peter’s Square.
Di celebration go gather plenty heads of state, dignitaries, and other important people. Di last pope, Francis, use him inaugural homily to talk say everybody for economic and social leadership should be protectors of God’s plan. Leo go take di opportunity to show wetin dey important to him.
Di choice of where Leo go stay dey also matter. Francis pick di Casa Santa Marta guesthouse wey be simple like hotel as him residence rather than di grand Apostolic Palace. But Leo fit decide to go for di typical style of his predecessors and stay for di Apostolic Palace instead. Vatican sources quote say, “He is new on di job; let’s give am time to decide.”
Austen Ivereigh shed more light on di situation. “Dis na important choices wey go define di new pope’s reign. Over di next few days, we go dey learn various things about him. Di first week of di papacy dey usually full of small revelations.” Meanwhile, fragments of Robert Prevost’s old life dey emerge as people dey recall wetin him do back for Peru, wey he take citizenship for 2015.
As di South American social media dey jubilate, one photo show am with one large handmade birthday card wey people write in Spanish. Di country’s president, Dina Boluarte, said, “Di pope na Peruvian; God dey love Peru!” Some American tourists wey dey roam di Peter’s Square don dey show less excitement over di new American pope. One Chicagoan on honeymoon, Kerry, confess say, “I’m still surprised dem choose an American!”
Her husband Joseph add say, “When you’re elected Pope, things don change forever. Di new papa get di ability to show what it means to be truly a man of God. I pray he go lead with confidence, humility, and prayer.”
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