Vatican City, May 8, 2025 – In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old prelate from Chicago, has been elected as the new Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The announcement came after a swift conclave in the Sistine Chapel, which began on Wednesday, May 7, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Prevost’s election marks the first time an American has ascended to the papacy, a milestone that has sparked global intrigue and a wave of reactions within the Catholic community.
The conclave, attended by 133 cardinal electors, required a two-thirds majority – 89 votes – to elect a new Pope, according to Vatican News. Prevost, who emerged as a leading candidate due to his prominent role as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023, secured the necessary votes in a process that concluded earlier today. White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at approximately 5:00 PM BST, signaling to the world that a new pontiff had been chosen. Shortly after, the senior cardinal deacon appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to proclaim, “Habemus Papam!” – We have a Pope.
Pope Leo XIV, born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago to a Spanish mother and American father, brings a diverse background to the papacy. Ordained a priest for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot, Prevost earned advanced degrees in Canon Law, including a Doctorate in 1987 from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas. His ecclesiastical career has been marked by significant roles, including Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, where he conducted missionary work, and his elevation to cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. In January 2023, Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a position that oversees the selection of bishops worldwide and often positions its holder as papabile – a likely candidate for the papacy.
Prevost’s rise to the papacy comes at a pivotal time for the Catholic Church, which has faced challenges ranging from declining membership in some regions to ongoing debates over social issues. Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American Pope, left a legacy of progressive reforms, including efforts to address climate change, foster interfaith dialogue, and apologize for the Church’s historical wrongs, such as its role in the cultural genocide of Canadian Indigenous peoples.
However, his stances on issues like same-sex unions – often misinterpreted as liberal – drew both praise and criticism, as noted in Wikipedia entries on his tenure.
The Catholic Church’s first American Pope also brings symbolic weight to U.S. Catholics, who number over 70 million and represent a significant portion of the global faithful.
As Pope Leo XIV steps into his new role, the world watches closely. His first public appearance as Pope is expected tomorrow, where he will deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing to the city and the world. For now, the Catholic Church enters a new chapter under the leadership of a man whose journey from a Chicago upbringing to the Chair of St. Peter has already made history.