Speaking to reporters in the municipality of Guimarães, in the district of Braga, André Ventura welcomed the election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope. Expressing hope, he remarked that it is an “important moment for the Catholic Church” and “a happy day and a good day for all Catholics.”
“I believe this is a name that gives us hope that in the future we may have an interventionist Church in important areas,” he stated, advocating for a “firm Church, strong in matters of conviction, in all areas, from spirituality to immigration, hospitality, and the fight against poverty.”
Entering a dinner-rally, the leader of Chega expressed his hope that the new Pope would be a “signal of reform for the Church” and “of doctrine.”
The leader of Chega considered it “normal” for a new Pope to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor to a certain extent but noted that “each Pope has his mark, each Pope has his style.”
“And I am truly convinced that this Pope can be a beacon of hope,” he indicated.
Regarding the nationality of the new Pope Leo XIV, the Chega leader rejected any “political symbolism.”
“As a believer, I am convinced that this is the choice that the Church needed at this moment, and it is a choice made in a specific context but does not cater to political reasons,” he stated.
The leader of Chega suggested that “there are things the Catholic Church should follow” and others where “it could be different,” such as “the issue of immigration in Europe and the relationship between the Catholic Church and other churches.”
“This Pope has unique conditions in the world, given a context of instability and uncertainty, to be a voice of hope, combating poverty and privilege, as Pope Francis was in that matter, but potentially adding a different tone on issues we believe should also differ, such as combating illegal immigration,” he argued.
Ventura also noted that “in the United States of America, Brazil, and other countries, there is a marked growth of Protestant churches that the Catholic Church must also be able to address and integrate.”
“In this respect, I think this Pope can be somewhat different from Pope Francis; in other respects, I hope he follows Francis’s legacy and contributions,” he stated.
André Ventura admitted he would criticize Leo XIV, just as he did with Francis, if he disagrees with certain positions.
Regarding the role of the Catholic Church leader in the international geopolitical context, André Ventura said the Vatican has been a “mediator in conflicts, many conflicts worldwide, successfully” and believed that “the Pope can have an important role here.”
As for relations between the United States of America and Europe, he sees the potential “to help stabilize relations of spirituality and civilization.”
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, was elected Pope today by the 133 cardinals gathered in Rome, assuming the name Leo XIV.
The cardinals, gathered in the Sistine Chapel, elected the 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church on the second day of the conclave.
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, is the first American to be elected Pope.
