Pope Leo XIV is prone to proceed the legacy of his predecessor in advocating for environmental preservation and repair of the world’s poor and struggling populations, a detailed good friend tells CNN.
“Leo XIV will proceed to encourage all of us to concentrate on and to do what we are able to to make this a greater world for everyone, which implies caring for the issues that we now have and have been given to us and for us – been given to us to share,” Reverend Artwork Purcaro, assistant vice chairman of mission and ministry at Villanova College, mentioned.
Purcaro and Robert Prevost, who’s now the pope, first served collectively in an Augustinian mission in northern Peru, serving a group of poor subsistence farmers.
The pair have labored collectively between Rome and Peru for greater than twenty years.
They spoke earlier than Prevost entered the conclave. Prevost instructed Purcaro he had heard his identify being mentioned as a possible papal candidate however “wasn’t searching for something,” telling Purcaro he would settle for “no matter God desires.”
“He is deeply non secular and really solidly based mostly in his religion, not an bold particular person. He is reserved,” Purcaro mentioned.
The priest believes Pope Leo will reside humbly as Pope Francis did, shirking the pomp and grandeur that typically accompany the place.
“After we have a look at him dressed as he’s now, we would assume (of) clergy, hierarchy, distance, privilege, which I do not see as a part of his nature in any respect,” Purcaro mentioned.
“It might be pure for Pope Leo, as (he did as) Bob Prevost, to reside humbly, merely, genuinely, authentically.”
