Peruvians elated after cardinal who spent years in the South American country is elected pope

LIMA Peru AP Peruvians were elated Thursday after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country and they see as one of their own was elected pope Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru where he first served as a missionary and then as an archbishop That made him the first pope from each country In Peru s capital Lima the bells of the cathedral rang after Cardinal Robert Prevost was revealed as Pope Francis successor People outside the church fleetly expressed their desire for a papal visit For us Peruvians it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country revealed elementary school lecturer Isabel Panez who was near the cathedral when the news was declared We would like him to visit us here in Peru Leo standing on the balcony of St Peter s Basilica for the first time as pope addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo which sits just miles km away from Peru s northern Pacific coast and is among the country s most of populous cities Greetings to all of you and in particular to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop shared their faith he reported Diana Celis who attended several Masses officiated by Prevost in Chiclayo reported The Associated Press that he would often repeat that he had come from Chicago to Chiclayo the only difference is a limited letters Born in Chicago in Prevost has held Peruvian nationality since Peru s national register agency ratified Thursday In he served as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo and remained in that position until Francis summoned him to Rome in to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world one of the majority of vital jobs in the Catholic Church He will be very sensitive to the social doctrine of the Church and will undoubtedly be attentive to the signs of the times the Rev Edinson Farf n bishop of Chiclayo communicated reporters Garcia Cano stated from Mexico City Source