Pope Leo XIV elected, first ever American supreme pontiff – National & International News – THU 8May2025

 

 

First ever American pope elected.

Trump admin wants to send migrants to Rwanda, Libya.

 

First ever American pope elected 

After a 2-day conclave, the college of Cardinals has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, of Chicago to be the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Prevost is the first American to ever serve in the role. He has chosen his papal name as Leo XIV. 

Prevost’s election is a slight but not radical, departure from the legacy of his predecessor Pope Francis. Prevost is seen as a moderate while Pope Francis, the first ever Jesuit pontiff who passed away last month, was seen as more liberal or left-leaning. However, like Pope Francis, Pope Leo has a reputation for ministering to and uplifting the plight of marginalized and oppressed people.

Prevost has only been a cardinal for about 2 years. He spent much of his career doing missionary work in South America and was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2014.

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Trump admin wants to send migrants to Rwanda, Libya

Rwandan officials have confirmed that they are in talks with the Trump administration as a potential destination for migrants deported by the US. The Central African nation had previously struck an agreement with the British government to accept thousands of migrants that arrived on their shores. After many legal challenges to the plan arose, the British plan was scrapped when a new Labor government took power last year.

Rwanda has a troubled history, infamously including a genocidal war in the 1990s, which has had political knock-on effects that still reverberate today. Recently, Rwanda has been accused of sponsoring deadly and vicious attacks on civilians by separatist militants in neighboring Congo.

Additionally, the Trump administration has been pursuing a plan to deport migrants to the North African nation of Libya. Libya is notoriously unstable as a nation and has been mired in internal conflict ever since the US backed the overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. 

While currently under orders from a judge not to deport migrants to Libya, US officials that spoke anonymously to the media have said the US military could begin deportation flights to Libya as soon as this week.