Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected pope and chosen the name Leo XIV, becoming the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history. The announcement was made on May 8, 2025, when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, indicating the conclusion of the papal conclave. His election marks a historic shift and reflects the Church’s growing global character.
Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Prevost is of Italian, French, and Spanish descent. He joined the Order of St. Augustine and graduated with a mathematics degree from Villanova University in 1977. He was ordained a priest in 1982 and later earned degrees in theology and canon law in Rome. Throughout his life, Prevost has been multilingual, fluent in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian, and he reads Latin and German.
Much of Prevost’s missionary work was carried out in Peru, where he served as a parish priest, seminary educator, and diocesan official. His long association with Peru led to his appointment as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015. He was also elected Prior General of the Augustinian order, a position he held from 2001 to 2013. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, a role that put him at the heart of the Church’s leadership structure and made him a leading figure in Church governance.
Prevost was elected pope after four rounds of voting by 133 cardinals. In his first address as Pope Leo XIV, he called for peace, unity, and dialogue, underlining his pastoral approach and his desire to strengthen connections within the global Catholic community. His election has been well received around the world. U.S. President Donald Trump described it as a “great honor,” while other world leaders, including those from Germany and Spain, expressed congratulations and optimism about his leadership.
Holding dual citizenship in the United States and Peru, Pope Leo XIV embodies a blend of cultures and experiences. His background in missionary work, education, and administration gives him a balanced perspective that is expected to influence his papacy. His election signals a new era for the Catholic Church, one that embraces diversity and inclusiveness while staying rooted in its spiritual mission.
