May 8, 2025

SPECIAL--HABEMUS PAPAM: Historic Moment: America's First Pope

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message A historic moment has arrived for Catholics worldwide as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV—the first American pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history. This Chicago-born Augustinian, who spent much of his ministry in Peru, stands as the 267th successor to the Apostle Peter, breaking precedent in ways few expected to witness in their lifetimes. The announcement "Habemus Papam" echoes with particular significanc...

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FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message

A historic moment has arrived for Catholics worldwide as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV—the first American pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history. This Chicago-born Augustinian, who spent much of his ministry in Peru, stands as the 267th successor to the Apostle Peter, breaking precedent in ways few expected to witness in their lifetimes.

The announcement "Habemus Papam" echoes with particular significance as this 69-year-old cardinal steps onto the world stage. What makes this papal election especially intriguing is that Cardinal Prevost remains something of a mystery on many pressing Church issues. As veteran Vatican observers note, his positions on controversial matters aren't widely documented, making hasty judgments premature. History teaches us that cardinals often govern differently than expected once they assume the papacy—just look at Pius IX or Leo XIII, whose name our new pope has chosen.

Already, Pope Leo XIV has made notable choices: delivering the apostolic blessing in Latin, appearing in traditional vestments, and seeming visibly moved by the moment's gravity. These initial signs defy simple categorization into progressive or traditional camps. The weight of guiding 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide is undoubtedly overwhelming, and this unprecedented American papacy deserves our prayers and patience. Rather than rushing to conclusions, let's support our new Holy Father as he navigates the enormous responsibility of leading the Church through challenging times ahead. Share your thoughts on this historic moment and join us in praying for unity, love, and peace for all the world under Pope Leo XIV's guidance.

Key items


• Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old Augustinian has spent most of his ministry in Peru
• Despite immediate reactions on social media, Cardinal Prevost remains "largely a mystery" on major Church issues
• Historical precedent shows cardinals can govern differently than expected once they become pope
• The new pope gave his first apostolic blessing in Latin and wore traditional garments
• He appeared emotional while standing on the Loggia after his introduction
• As Pope Leo XIV, he has chosen a name respected by both conservative and progressive Catholics

NEW Pope Leo XIV's Cardinals profile

https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/robert-francis-prevost/


Please remember to pray for our new Holy Father as he takes on this monumental responsibility of guiding the Church through challenging times.


00:00 - Habemus Papam: Historic Announcement

00:50 - Welcome to Special Edition Episode

01:23 - Cardinal Prevost: America's First Pope

03:36 - Caution Against Hasty Judgments

06:15 - Praying for the New Pope

09:48 - Closing Thoughts and Sign-off

WEBVTT

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Annuncio vobis gaudium magnum.

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I announce to you with great joy habemus Papam, we have a.

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Pope.

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Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life.

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Now here's your host, David Kaiser.

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Hello, I am David and welcome to this special edition of the Mojo Minute, the Catholic Corner and the Liberty Minute all put together as one, because it is joy.

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In my household today we have a pope, habemus papum.

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Not only that we have a pope, we have, shockingly, an American pope.

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Never before in my lifetime or, I believe, any American's lifetime if you were serious intellectually that you would think there would be an American pope.

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And here we are.

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We have an American pope as the 267th successor to the Apostle Peter.

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His name Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.

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He is an Augustinian.

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He's from the Augustinian Order, born in Chicago, sweet home Chicago, 69 years old, spent most of his time in Peru.

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So this is just fascinating, absolutely fascinating, that we have an American pope, a historic, a first historic Pope from the United States of America.

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And I will not read his whole biography.

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I'm sure everyone listening has already piled through social media to get anything and everything that has been written said about this Cardinal.

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I am not going to reiterate it.

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I will put his Cardinal profile from our College of Cardinals report in the show notes in case you wanted to peruse it.

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But some things that have jumped out at me is on the important issues that Edward Petten and Diane Montagna, two veteran journalists who try to call it straight, right down the uh facing the church, that, um, largely this Cardinal is unknown.

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It's a mystery where he stands on most of these issues.

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So, uh, right before we came on air, I was reading that the liberals are loving this pick and the conservatives are hating this pick, and I will have to say slow down, take a breath.

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We do not know how this pontificate will be governed because on the major issues, cardinal Provost is largely a mystery.

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So to project and amplify how he was as a cardinal and his views is how he will absolutely be as Pope is frankly thinking too much like the American media and in fact, too much like the world media.

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We have plenty of examples of papacies where a liberal cardinal has come in and governed like a conservative.

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Think Pius IX in the mid to late 19th century.

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We can think of Pope Leo XIII.

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This guy has taken the regnal name of Leo XIV.

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Pope Leo XIII largely governed, was a conservative, largely governed as a conservative, but yet issued something that was progressive for its time, an encyclical that was groundbreaking and probably earth shattering to people at the time.

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Rerum Novarum.

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So these things have a way of working themselves out.

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So, for everyone who is already on social media, saying this or that is going to happen is way, way, way too quick.

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Like I said, this pope has taken the name Leo XIV.

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It's a name that both conservatives and liberals both love.

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He came out in the Logia and gave the apostolic blessing in Latin.

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That's something that Pope Francis did not do.

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He wore traditional garments that Pope Francis did not wear Now.

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He spoke in Italian and Spanish and, like I said, in Latin, but he did not speak in English, which I would have preferred as an American, because he's American.

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But again, we can give Christian grace to this man, to this Pope.

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I thought he was very in command on the Logia, full of the presence of the moment.

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It was hard to tell he.

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I thought he was very in command on the Logia, full of the presence of the moment.

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It was hard to tell, but I thought he was perhaps shedding tears while still standing on the Logia.

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Uh, it was hard to tell.

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He was wearing glasses, um, uh, but I guess my initial reaction is I would caution everyone to slow down and offer some prayers for the Holy Father tonight.

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This is a monumental job.

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The weight of this job has to be crushing and we will.

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All the world will certainly have more to say in the days and weeks and years to come.

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I'm sure.

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May the Holy Father live long.

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He needs our prayers.

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The weight of the world is upon him.

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We know our Lord Jesus Christ will guide him, will give him the grace to guide the bark of Peter.

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So let us do that right now.

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Let us pray for the Holy Father.

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So let us do that right now.

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Let us pray for the Holy Father, and we will certainly have more to say in the days and weeks and years to come.

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So let us pray.

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And actually, before we pray, we have to just again pause.

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Let's take our own advice.

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We have to pause.

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This is the first American pope.

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This is historic.

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Let us have gratitude in the moment that this is the first American pope in 2,000 years.

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And it is just, it's historic.

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Still in shock, still in shock, cannot believe this.

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So, yes, we absolutely have to pray.

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The weight of the world is on this newly minted Pope and the Holy Father, I'm sure, is feeling the weight of the world and most likely will not sleep tonight.

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Let us pray that he can sleep.

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We need him to get his rest, we need him to get his energy, we need him to lead this flock with doctrinal clarity, with good holiness and virtues, and he certainly needs our prayers.

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So now let us pray.

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Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love, by governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care.

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May he, as successor to the apostle Peter and vicar of Christ, build your church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.

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Amen, unity, love and peace for all the world.

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Amen.

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Habemus Papam.

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We have a Pope, an American Pope.

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Let us project that Theory to Action podcast.

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Be sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademycom, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast, as well as other great resources.

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Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.