Manila Cathedral Celebrates Election of New Pope

MANILA, PH — The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or the Manila Cathedral, welcomed with prayers the election of the new head of the Roman Catholic Church - Pope Leo XIV.

(Photo Source: Manila Cathedral FB)

"HABEMUS PAPAM! WE HAVE A POPE! Dear brothers and sisters, we announce to you a great joy; we have a pope! Robert Francis Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost who has taken the name LEO XIV."

The Manila Cathedral-Basilica is the Premier Basilica of the Philippines because, among the Churches in the Philippines, it is the only one elevated to the rank of a Basilica by the Pope’s own initiative (motu proprio). All other Churches in the Philippines became a Basilica due to the initiative of the local Church where it is located.

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, now a canonized Saint, raised the Manila Cathedral to the dignity of a Basilica (motu proprio) on April 27, 1981, two months after his first visit to the Philippines in February 1981.

As the Premier Church, Premier Cathedral and Premier Basilica, the Manila Cathedral-Basilica is the Mother of all Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas in the Philippines.

(Photo by: Portia Delgado, TFCN ITALY)

POPE LEO XIV

"Peace be with all of you!" - the first words of Pope Leo XIV. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.

The first Augustinian Pope, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family.

During the most recent hospitalization of his predecessor at the “Gemelli” hospital, Prevost presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis’s health in Saint Peter’s Square on March 3.

On social media, Catholics from around the world wrote messages and prayers for the new pontiff - Pope Leo XIV.

Photo Source: MANILA CATHEDRAL FB

Photo by: PORTIA DELGADO, TFCN ITALY