Belgrade archbishop recalls tense first dinner with Pope Leo XIV
The Archbishop of Belgrade, Cardinal László Német, shared his memories from the last conclave. In an interview with Hungarian television, the hierarch described how Cardinal Robert Prevost behaved when it became clear he would be the next pope. He also spoke about the behaviour of other participants in the conclave. "No one dared to sit at the Pope's table at dinner," he recalls.
Cardinal Prevost from the USA was elected pope on 8 May, on the second day of the conclave. The clergyman took the name Leo XIV.
When the votes came in and his election became more and more certain, he simply buried his head in his hands," said Cardinal Német. He added that Cardinal Prevost was not "a member of inner-church circles" and did not aspire to the highest offices in the Church.
"He surrendered to the will of God," assessed the Serbian hierarch.
"He sat alone." Cardinals did not dare approach the pope
According to his account, the cardinals participating in the conclave were clearly intimidated after the election of the new pope. "No one dared to sit at the Pope's table at dinner. He sat there alone, all in white, a little lost," recalls Cardinal Német.
Seeing this - as he added - along with two monks, he approached Leo XIV and asked if they could join him. "Of course, of course," he replied. And so I had dinner with the pope," concludes the archbishop of Belgrade.
The official inauguration of Leo XIV's pontificate will take place on 18 May.
