In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected as the 267th pope, becoming the first American to lead the global Church. The announcement came after two days of conclave voting by 133 cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, with white smoke billowing from its chimney signaling the election of the new pontiff.
At 69 years old, Cardinal Prevost chose the papal name Pope Leo XIV. He appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, delivering his first message as pope: "Peace be with all of you!" He expressed a hope that his message of peace would reach hearts worldwide, families, and individuals everywhere.
Prevost has a distinguished background, having been raised in Chicago and serving extensively in Peru, where he developed deep missionary roots. He also has significant Vatican experience, including leadership roles within the Church’s hierarchy. His election marks a new chapter for the Catholic Church, following the recent passing of Pope Francis.
The conclave’s secrecy was maintained by all involved, including Vatican staff and clergy, who took oaths to ensure confidentiality during the election process. The voting concluded on the third round, with the senior cardinal officially asking Prevost if he accepted the papacy and what name he wished to take, to which he responded with his chosen name, Leo XIV.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the traditional Latin announcement "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") was declared. Pope Leo XIV then led the crowd in prayer and offered his apostolic blessing, signaling the beginning of his pontificate.
This election is widely seen as a surprising yet momentous event, as experts had not anticipated an American to ascend to the papacy. The faithful around the world now look to Pope Leo XIV to guide the Church through the challenges of the modern era with his grounded, missionary spirit and extensive ecclesiastical experience.
Biography of Pope Leo XIV (Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost)
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in 1977 in Saint Louis, professing his solemn vows in 1981. He studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago before being sent to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, in Rome.
Prevost earned a doctorate in canon law in 1987 with a thesis on the role of the local prior in the Augustinian Order. Early in his ministry, he served as a missionary in Peru, working in the dioceses of Chulucanas and Trujillo. There, he held roles such as community prior, director of formation, and judicial vicar, while also teaching canon, patristic, and moral law at the major seminary.
In 1999, Prevost was elected provincial prior of the Augustinian province of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Chicago and later served two terms as prior general of the worldwide Augustinian Order starting in 2002 and again in 2007. Returning to Chicago in 2013, he served as teacher and provincial vicar until Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He was consecrated bishop on December 12, 2014, and served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015, overseeing a diocese that includes urban and rural communities.
He became second vice president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference in 2018. Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2019 and the Congregation for Bishops in 2020. In 2020, he was also named apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Callao, Peru.
On January 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, placing him in charge of vetting bishop nominations worldwide for the Latin Rite Church-one of the most influential roles in the Vatican hierarchy. He was created cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023.
Prevost’s formation and leadership have been shaped by his deep commitment to the Augustinian vow of obedience and his missionary experience in Peru. He holds dual American and Peruvian citizenship, which helped bridge cultural and ecclesiastical divides. Known for his humility and dedication, Prevost has been described as a "bishop-maker" with a reputation for careful discernment in episcopal appointments.
His election as Pope Leo XIV breaks longstanding taboos against an American pope, reflecting his unique blend of American roots and Latin American pastoral experience. In his first address, he cited St. Augustine of Hippo and emphasized peace, unity, and the legacy of Pope Francis, signaling a pontificate grounded in missionary zeal and pastoral care
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