A well-known Killarney priest who spent six years on missionary work in Peru, where Pope Leo X1V was based for several years, said he is delighted with the choice made by the cardinals at the conclave in the Sistine Chapel and he predicted that the American native will be a great leader.
Fr Tom Looney worked in Peru from 1975 to 1981 and he spent a period of time helping out in the seminary where the man who became pope later spent 10 years on the staff.
Leo X1V ran the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo as well as serving as parish pastor and director of formation.
After completing studies in theology in his native Chicago and canon law in Rome, Fr Robert Prevost was sent to join the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas in Peru in 1985.
He was appointed bishop in the Diocese of Chiclayo in 2015 and became a Peruvian citizen and he was reluctant to leave the country when he was called back to Rome in 2023. Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal and he became head of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Fr Tom Looney, who spent most of his time in Peru in the Archdiocese of Trujillo, said he had and still has strong connections with Pope Leo’s Order of Saint Augustine in Peru and has some very good friends there. He has returned to the country three times since he finished his missionary work.
One of the people he befriended was Fr Jim Lyne from Annaghmore in Headford who died in Peru in 1976 and is buried there.
Fr Tom said he has fond memories of visiting Fr Jim in Lima to celebrate Kerry’s All-Ireland victory in 1975 when he was accompanied by Fr Louis Dineen from Rathmore, Fr Luke Roche who was PP in Castlemaine for several years and Fr John Ahern from Farranfore.
Fr Jim emigrated to Pope Leo V1X’s native Chicago after the civil war and later joined the Augustinian Order and was sent to Peru.
Fr Tom, who also worked in London and served as parish priest in Tralee, Ardfert, Tuosist, Kilcummin, Dingle and Fossa before he retired in 2020, said he believes Pope Leo will be a wonderful pope who will work hard to help the poor and migrants and the care of the environment and climate change will be topic very prominent in his agenda.
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