People traveled to the Vatican from all over the world to witness the election of a new pope. What more do we know about the life of the Chicago-born pontiff who also holds Peruvian citizenship? Also, negotiators from the US and China will meet this weekend in Switzerland for talks about the trade war between the two countries.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Daniel Burke, Ryland Barton, Padmananda Rama, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What was the atmosphere like during the Pope's election at the Vatican?
What was it like to be at the Vatican when a cleric made this announcement?
We have a pope, he said. American Robert Prevost is now Leo XIV, and we'll hear from Ruth Sherlock, who was there.
Chapter 2: Who is the new Pope Leo XIV?
I'm Leila Fadel, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. How does the Pope from Chicago look to American political partisans? We'll hear some of his stances so far.
Also, negotiators from the U.S. and China will meet over the weekend. The U.S. hopes to ease the terms of its own trade war, while China wants fewer restrictions on American tech.
Export controls on chips in particular, and then chip-making equipment. So things that would allow them to accelerate the domestic development of AI.
Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.
The Catholic Church followed each step of a ritual that's centuries old. White smoke poured from a chimney yesterday, then a cleric appeared on a balcony to say these words in Latin.
Abemus Papam, we have a pope, thanks to my high school Latin teacher. Moments later, as we heard live on NPR, the cleric gave the name Robert Francis Prevost, and it became apparent that it was a pope from Chicago.
NPR's Rome correspondent Ruth Sherlock was there watching it all unfold in Vatican City. Hi, Ruth. Hi. Hi. So Ruth, you got to watch this history being made.
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Chapter 3: What were the reactions to the new Pope's election?
Tell us what it was like. Well, you know, in those moments leading up to the white smoke, there were just people in prayer all over the square in their own languages. I heard Italian, French, Bengali. Sister Mary Agnes Mruga, a nun from Poland, gave this great description of what it was like waiting outside the Sistine Chapel while the cardinals were inside.
It's just exciting to be in the very place when they are, you know, behind the wall, they are electing, and we are on the other side praying for them.
And then the white smoke just started billowing out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning that new Pope had been chosen. There were marching bands and chants of Viva il Papa, Long Live the Pope, And then it was announced, Robert Provost, an American Cardinals Pope. You know, the reaction where I was was actually initially one of confusion.
Lots of people hadn't heard through the tinny speakers. People were frantically trying to check their phones, but there was no phone data. But gradually the name Provost kind of spread through the crowd. And then he appeared on the lodger of the Basilica.
His first public appearance as Pope Leo XIV. What was his message?
His first words were, peace be with you all. And you know, Leila, his speech had echoes of the papacy of his predecessor, Francis, for its global message. He sent well wishes of peace to quote all of the people all over the earth. He gave a special greeting to the diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where he lived for many years, where he was a bishop.
And he recited the Hail Mary prayer with thousands of people joining him from the square.
And what was the reaction once people finally got the news and saw the new pope and were starting to get a sense of who he is? How were they reacting to him?
Well, the reaction was actually very mixed. Where I was standing, there was some disappointment, particularly among Italians. You know, there have been many Italian popes before and they were hoping that one of the Italian cardinals would be chosen. Among Americans, though, as you can imagine, there was shock. There absolutely isn't a precedent there.
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Chapter 4: What is the background of Pope Leo XIV?
So lots of optimism about what this Pope might be able to achieve. Lots of expectations. It's a very difficult time in the world. And Pope Francis spoke repeatedly about human suffering in conflict, about poverty, and many people hoping he'll continue that legacy. And Pierre's Ruth Sherlock. Thank you, Ruth. Thanks so much, Leila.
NPR religion correspondent Jason DeRose, along with Ruth, was part of our live coverage yesterday as the name was revealed, and he's been looking into the life of the Pope from Chicago. Hi there, Jason. Hello. What do you know about Leo?
Well, Pope Leo is 69 years old, which makes him a bit on the younger side for popes. He's got quite some time left in him. He was an undergraduate at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where he majored in mathematics. Like Pope Francis, he's a member of a religious order, in Prevost's case, the Augustinians, who focus on missionary work and education.
Prevost, now Pope Leo, went to seminary at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and he did his doctorate here in Rome. He spent significant parts of his ministry in Peru. During his greeting from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square yesterday, though, he spoke in both Italian and Spanish, but did not significantly, I think, speak in English.
And he served on the Pontifical Commission on Latin America, a place he knows well, given his time in Peru.
What sense do you have at this early moment about what style of pope he might be?
Well, here's what Cardinal Prevost told the Vatican's official news agency prior to his election as pope about what he thinks church leadership should be.
The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom. but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, and to look for ways that he can better live the gospel message in the midst of his people.
And Steve, that's very similar to what Pope Francis was fond of saying, that a pastor who's a shepherd should smell like his sheep.
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Chapter 5: What are the criticisms and challenges Pope Leo XIV faces?
Chapter 6: What are the U.S.-China trade talks about?
Export controls on chips in particular, and then chip-making equipment. So things that would allow them to accelerate the domestic development of AI.
Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.
The Catholic Church followed each step of a ritual that's centuries old. White smoke poured from a chimney yesterday, then a cleric appeared on a balcony to say these words in Latin.
Abemus Papam, we have a pope, thanks to my high school Latin teacher. Moments later, as we heard live on NPR, the cleric gave the name Robert Francis Prevost, and it became apparent that it was a pope from Chicago.
NPR's Rome correspondent Ruth Sherlock was there watching it all unfold in Vatican City. Hi, Ruth. Hi. Hi. So Ruth, you got to watch this history being made.
Tell us what it was like. Well, you know, in those moments leading up to the white smoke, there were just people in prayer all over the square in their own languages. I heard Italian, French, Bengali. Sister Mary Agnes Mruga, a nun from Poland, gave this great description of what it was like waiting outside the Sistine Chapel while the cardinals were inside.
It's just exciting to be in the very place when they are, you know, behind the wall, they are electing, and we are on the other side praying for them.
And then the white smoke just started billowing out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning that new Pope had been chosen. There were marching bands and chants of Viva il Papa, Long Live the Pope, And then it was announced, Robert Provost, an American Cardinals Pope. You know, the reaction where I was was actually initially one of confusion.
Lots of people hadn't heard through the tinny speakers. People were frantically trying to check their phones, but there was no phone data. But gradually the name Provost kind of spread through the crowd. And then he appeared on the lodger of the Basilica.
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