US Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV

American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, May 8, taking the papal name Leo XIV and becoming the first pope from the United States.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and world leaders congratulated Pope Leo XIV, expressing hope that he will continue to bring the Church closer to the poor and disadvantaged, promote dialogue across faiths and cultures, and foster solidarity among nations.

Filipino Catholics were called on to pray for Pope Leo XIV by Filipino Augustinian prior provincial Fr. Dante Bendoy O.S.A., who presided over a Thanksgiving Mass at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila, urging support and prayers for the new pope.

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Avincula encouraged Filipinos to pray for the new pope during a press conference at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, noting Pope Leo XIV's focus on social issues following in the footsteps of Pope Leo XIII.

Pope Leo XIV faces a packed schedule, inheriting many events from his predecessor Francis and has already visited the Philippines multiple times as part of his work with the Augustinian religious order.

Filipino Catholics expect Pope Leo XIV to promote unity and harmony within the Church, emphasizing the importance of communion among believers. Fr. Peter Casiño, who met Prevost during his time in Peru, shared that the new pope is likely to continue promoting harmonious relationships at home.