Pope Leo XIV Makes History As First U.S. Pope Chosen To Lead Catholic Church

The 133 cardinals gathered at the Vatican for a secret conclave have elected the first U.S.-born pope in the Roman Catholic Church’s history: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who will now be known as Pope Leo XIV. He succeeds the late Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 years old last month. Thousands of people celebrated in Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV, a 69-year-old from Chicago with dual nationalities and a talent for languages, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Square in red and white attire.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was photographed at the Vatican after being chosen as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. White smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney indicated the selection of a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which has over 1 billion followers, through a two-thirds majority vote by the cardinals, the church’s highest clergy under the pope.

In his first address as pope, delivered in Italian, Spanish, and Latin but not English, he said, “Peace be with you,” and expressed his desire for peace to reach all people. Originally from Chicago’s South Side, Pope Leo XIV studied at Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. He later pursued canon law studies in Rome and served in various roles in Peru for two decades before becoming the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine in 2001.

The conclave, which began with mass, prayers, and oath-taking on Wednesday morning local time, culminated in the election of the 267th pontiff after several rounds of voting over two days. The Argentine-born Francis, who had appointed a significant number of the voting cardinals, had significant posthumous influence on the selection of his successor. This conclave was the most diverse in history, with cardinals representing 71 countries across continents.