In a historic first for the Catholic Church, American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the 267th pope, taking the papal name Leo XIV
The announcement came Thursday evening as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling that the College of Cardinals had successfully chosen a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Moments later, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to proclaim the traditional words, “Habemus Papam” — “We have a pope.”
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 after a 12-year papacy marked by reform and global engagement.
Born in Chicago and aged 69, Leo XIV is the first American to ascend to the papacy. A member of the Augustinian order, he holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru and spent much of his ministry as a bishop and missionary in Latin America. In 2023, he was appointed by Pope Francis to head the Vatican office responsible for appointing bishops, a powerful position that raised his global profile within Church leadership.
In his first address from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV greeted the gathered faithful with the words, “Peace be with you,” striking a tone of calm, continuity, and unity.
His election is seen as a landmark moment for the Church, reflecting both Pope Francis’s legacy of global outreach and a growing emphasis on diverse leadership. As he begins his papacy, Pope Leo XIV faces significant challenges — from deepening divisions within the Church to global conflicts, declining clergy numbers, and the ongoing fallout from the sexual abuse crisis.
The papal inauguration is expected to take place within the week, where Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a public Mass and outline his vision for the Church moving forward.
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