In a groundbreaking moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope, marking the first time in history that a pope hails from the U.S. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The 69-year-old Chicago native is expected to step out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica within hours to greet the world for the first time as pontiff and deliver his inaugural Urbi et Orbi (“To the City and the World”) blessing.
The announcement was met with thunderous cheers from thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the conclusion of the secret conclave.
Prevost’s election signals both continuity and change for the 2,000-year-old institution. Known for his deep pastoral heart and global experience, Leo XIV is expected to continue the reformist legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, while bringing his own perspective shaped by decades of missionary work.
Born and raised in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV spent more than a decade in Peru as a missionary in Trujillo and later served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023.
Most recently, he led the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican’s influential body responsible for appointing bishops across the world — a post that gave him intimate insight into the Church’s global needs and challenges.
In a past interview with Vatican News, Leo XIV stated, “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.” His words now take on new weight as he prepares to guide over 1.4 billion Catholics through turbulent global times.
His election comes at a pivotal moment in Church history, amid widespread geopolitical instability, internal divisions, and a continued reckoning over the handling of sexual abuse scandals.
As pope, Leo XIV faces the monumental task of steering the Church through crises of faith, dwindling vocations in the West, and a shifting moral and social landscape.
With a strong background in Latin America and the Vatican, the American pope is expected to bring both a diplomatic sensibility and a pastoral touch to the global stage.
His unique blend of humility, missionary zeal, and administrative experience may prove vital as the Church grapples with a new era of challenges and opportunities.
The official papal inauguration Mass is expected to take place in the coming days, drawing political and religious leaders from around the world.
CNN