Coral Gables' 'Father Manny' Reacts to First American Pope, Leo XIV

Reaction to Pope Leo XIV's Election

• 💡 Father Manny Alvarez expressed surprise at the election of an American pope, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.
• 🎯 He noted Prevost's background as an Augustinian, canon lawyer, professor, and Villanova graduate.

Historical Context and Papal Names

• 📜 Father Manny delved into church history, referencing Pope Leo XIII, the first pope to be photographed and the author of the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which inaugurated the church's social teaching.
• 🗣️ He highlighted Pope Leo XIV's fluency in Spanish, which was a source of joy for the people of Peru, where Prevost previously served.

Hopes for Pope Leo XIV

• 🙏 Father Manny hopes Pope Leo XIV will unify the church and be a figure of peace, echoing Pope Francis's appeals for peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land.
• ✨ He also desires the new pope to be a figure of holiness, reminding people of Jesus Christ.