The Chicago-born pontiff spent much of his career ministering in Peru and became the first North American pope in the church’s 2,000-year history.
At 69, he also happens to be seven years younger than Pope Francis when he was elected in 2013.
“God has called me by your election to succeed the prince of the apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me,” Pope Leo said after celebrating his first Mass on Friday morning (9 May).
That being said, it seems Nostradamus has been cooking up a bit of Vatican doomsday drama, despite being dead for 458 years.
The French astrologer, born as Michel de Nostredame, became a world-renowned writer after the release of Les Prophéties – a collection of predictions – in 1555.
Although the English print version is only 179 pages, many have interpreted his words to predict upcoming contemporary world events.
Nostradamus’ followers believe he made a chilling prediction about Pope Leo XIV (Rainer Binder/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
While some see him as a genius, many just think he’s being deliberately vague.
As reported by the Economic Times, Nostradamus wrote a verse about the fate of the new pope.
“Through the death of a very old Pontiff / A Roman of good age will be elected / Of him it will be said that he weakens his seat / But long will he sit and in mordant activity,” he penned.
It could be interpreted that the ‘very old Pontiff’ is referring to the late Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 last month (21 April).
“A young man of dark skin with the help of the great king will deliver the purse to another of red colour,” he added of the new leader.
Pope Leo XIV was elected as the head of the Roman Catholic Church last Thursday (8 May) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
This might suggest a potential of a new religious shift, which could cause disruption in the Vatican.
It could also mean absolutely nothing.
Depends on how you interpret it really.
In the real world, however, Pope Leo is already well aware of what sort of problems we face.
On Sunday (11 May), he called to end the war in Ukraine and for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“I too address the world’s great powers by repeating the ever-present call ‘never again war’,” he told an estimated 100,000 people, who gathered below his balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
He added: “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”
