Election of Pope Leo XIV: A New Chapter for the VaticanCEFR A2
16 May 2025
Adapted from Melissa Vida, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Cecilia Milagros León García, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is a US citizen born in Chicago. He became a Peruvian citizen later. On May 8, white smoke appeared from the Vatican, showing a new Pope was elected after three votes.
Pope Leo XIV surprised many by starting his speech in Spanish, thanking his diocese in Chiclayo, Peru. He encouraged peace in his message. The people in Chiclayo were especially happy.
There was excitement in Chiclayo, where he served as a bishop for many years. Memes about his dual nationality quickly spread online.
Difficult words
- citizen — A person who belongs to a country.
- elect — To choose someone for a position.elected
- speech — A talk given to an audience.
- peace — A state of calm and no conflict.
- excited — Feeling very happy and enthusiastic.excitement
- bishop — A high-ranking Christian leader.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think people feel about having a Pope from their country?
- What could be the benefits of having a dual nationality?
- Why do you think the Pope chose to speak in Spanish?
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