American pope Leo XIV urged to champion global migrant rights
The new pope is Cardinal Robert Prevost from the USA, who has taken the name Leo XIV. The President of Colombia has already addressed the pope, urging him to "become a great leader for migrants around the world."
Leo XIV is 69 years old and has extensive experience serving in Peru. Cardinal Robert Prevost was recently the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. He was considered one of the papabili.
Among the congratulations and comments from around the world, the one from Colombia was particularly noteworthy.
"The new Pope Leo XIV is more than an American. His direct ancestors were Latinos: Spaniards and French, and he himself lived in Latin America, in Peru, for forty years," President of Colombia Gustavo Petro noted in his message.
"I hope he becomes a great leader for migrants around the world and brings encouragement to our brothers and sisters who are migrants from Latin America, humiliated today in the United States," appealed the President of Colombia.
"May you help us in building a powerful humanitarian force that defends life and counters the greed that has caused the climate crisis and extinction of life. Chicago is a remarkable progressive working-class city in the USA. I feel hopeful," added Gustavo Petro.
