WILLEMSTAD – Former Bishop of Willemstad, Monsignor Luis Secco, has expressed surprise at the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost, an American clergyman, was chosen by the conclave as the 267th pope and has taken the name Leo XIV. 

“It came as a surprise to me,” Secco said in response to the historic announcement. “But I believe that God guides history.” He emphasized the Catholic teaching that the cardinals are inspired by the Holy Spirit during the papal election. 

Secco reflected on the significance of the newly elected pope’s choice of name. Leo XIV evokes Pope Leo XIII, a highly influential 19th-century pope known for advancing the Church’s social doctrine, addressing the economic plight of the poor, and promoting a broad vision of societal engagement. “His name choice says a lot,” Secco added. 

Although he does not know the new pope personally, Secco refrained from making predictions about his papacy. “It is now up to everyone to observe how he will carry out his role as pope,” he said. 

Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, making him the first pope from the American continent. He was ordained as a priest in 1982 and became a bishop in 2014. 

The election of a non-European pope once again signals a shift in the global reach and direction of the Church, and many around the world—including here in Curaçao—will be watching closely to see how Pope Leo XIV shapes the future of Catholic leadership.