In a historic development for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. This marks the first time in history that an American has ascended to the papacy.
The announcement came after the fourth ballot of the conclave, held on its second day. White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:08 p.m. local time, signalling the election of a new pope.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the protodeacon, formally introduced the new pontiff to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88 following a stroke. The late pontiff was globally admired for his emphasis on humility, social justice, and reform within the Church.
Born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost comes from a rich heritage of Italian, French, and Spanish descent.
He joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. His early priesthood included missionary work in Peru, where he served in various roles including seminary teaching and diocesan leadership.
Pope Leo XIV is well-versed in languages, fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, with working knowledge of Latin and German. He holds degrees from Villanova University, the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
In 2023, he was appointed by Pope Francis as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key role in the Vatican responsible for selecting bishops globally — a position that significantly raised his visibility within the Church hierarchy.
In his first public appearance as pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he delivered a message focused on peace, unity, and dialogue, while also paying tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis.
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