Singapore's Catholic Church rejoices at election of Pope Leo XIV

SINGAPORE: The Catholic Church in Singapore on Friday (May 9) celebrated the election of Pope Leo XIV, who succeeds Pope Francis. Robert Francis Prevost is the first pope from the US. He was elected on Thursday after cardinals chose him to lead the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Aged 69, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal in 2023. As a member of the global Augustinian religious order, he focuses on community and equality. His papal inauguration is expected soon, with a mass for cardinals on Friday and the Regina Caeli prayer in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.