Robert Francis Prevost has stepped into history as the 267th Pope, choosing the papal name Pope Leo XIV. With each new pope comes a fresh sense of spirit and a unique vision for the Catholic Church, as highlighted by Dennis Doyle, a noted theologian and professor emeritus from the University of Dayton. He explains that the chosen papal name often reflects the new pope’s intended direction.

“The initial focal point would be identifying previous popes with the same name,” Doyle mentions. “This connection can signify something about the path the new pope endeavors to pursue.”

Pope Leo XIV initiated his leadership of the Catholic Church with the heartfelt words: “Peace be with you.”

In opening his address, he said, “Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God.

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”

He continued, “This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions.

Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.”

Echoing the sentiments of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, Leo XIV emphasizes the importance of reaching out to the impoverished and marginalized. He is also a strong advocate for addressing the global climate crisis, recognizing the grave risks it poses to our planet.

During his tenure as a cardinal, Leo discussed environmental challenges during a seminar in Rome, as noted by ABC.

Before his papacy, Leo served as the President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and was the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Interestingly, Leo was born in Chicago, making him the first pope from the United States.

Sharing about his background, he stated, “I was born in the United States… But my grandparents were all immigrants, French, Spanish… I was raised in a very Catholic family, both of my parents were very engaged in the parish.” He also holds Peruvian citizenship.

What has caught many by surprise is Pope Leo’s academic path. While one might assume his degree would pertain to theology, that isn’t the case.

In a twist, Pope Leo’s academic credentials lie in the field of mathematics. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977.

The revelation about his degree has stirred quite an online buzz, with internet users expressing surprise and intrigue.

One social media user humorously remarked, “The Pope being a math major means that he not only believes that Jesus multiplied bread and fish – he understands exactly how he did it.”

Others chimed in with comments like, “Math major possible career paths: quant, programmer, grad student… pope,” and “The new Pope is from Chicago and has a math degree, which goes to show you can still make a success of your life even if you don’t pass the first-round interview at Jump.”

Another lighthearted comment read, “Just found out the new pope studied math at undergrad in case you’re wondering how tough the job market is for technical roles right now,” while yet another amazed user simply inquired, “HE’S A MATH MAJOR???”

On a peaceful Sunday, Pope Leo addressed the world from the famous balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, calling for peace.

Please consider sharing these reflections with your family and friends.

With love and peace in mind.