Vatican City — In an unprecedented moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cleric with deep pastoral roots in Latin America, has been elected the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election marks the first time an American-born cardinal has ascended to the papacy, signaling a new chapter in the Church’s global history.
The “Habemus Papam” announcement came Thursday evening from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti formally presented the new pope to a crowd of thousands, moments after white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, confirming the successful end of the papal conclave.
The conclave was convened following the death of Pope Francis, whose decade-long papacy was marked by reform and a focus on social justice.
Pope Leo XIV, born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained in 1982. A scholar in Canon Law, he studied at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, eventually dedicating decades of ministry to Peru, where he served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and was granted Peruvian citizenship.
He gained prominence in 2023 when Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role overseeing global episcopal appointments. His tenure was notable for its efforts to promote transparency and inclusion, including groundbreaking steps toward involving women in the bishop selection process.
In choosing the name Leo XIV, the new pontiff evokes the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, remembered for his intellectual leadership and his groundbreaking 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching on workers’ rights and economic justice.
The election of an American-born pope, who also served extensively in Latin America, is seen by many as a symbol of unity between the Church’s Northern and Southern hemispheres. Observers believe Leo XIV’s unique background positions him to address pressing global issues—from secularism and declining Church attendance in the West to poverty, migration, and inequality across the developing world.
In his first address, Pope Leo XIV spoke of “renewal through mercy, service, and communion,” calling for unity and compassion in a fractured world.
The Catholic world now turns its gaze to the new pope for leadership through the spiritual and societal challenges of the 21st century. His pontificate begins as both a reflection of global diversity and a reaffirmation of the Church’s enduring mission.