Mathematician Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, from Chicago, has been chosen as Pope Leo XIV, making history as the first American Pope.
He studied mathematics at Villanova University and has spent a lot of time outside the U.S., where he led a Vatican office that supports bishops around the world.
His election was announced with a traditional ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, 2025.
White smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled that the cardinals had made their choice after two days of meetings following the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Robert Francis Prevost is the first American to be the leader of the Catholic Church in over 2,000 years. He is part of the Augustinian religious order and has spent many years working in Peru as a missionary and bishop.
He became a priest in 1982 in Rome and served as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2014 to 2023. He is known for his commitment to helping the poor and working for social justice, which is similar to the values of Pope Francis.
In 2023, Pope Francis made him a cardinal and put him in charge of the Dicastery for Bishops, an important position in the Vatican that helps select bishops around the world.
He has worked on reforms that include adding three women to the group that chooses bishops.
Prevost is known for being humble and practical. People describe him as someone who tries to bring together different views within the Church.
In his first speech from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he honoured Pope Francis and called on the faithful, who number over a billion Catholics.
A Historic Papacy
Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV, a name previously used by Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), is significant because there has never been an American pope before.
The name he chose is often linked to strength during tough times, showing that he plans to build on Francis’s work while tackling important issues like clergy sexual abuse and differences in beliefs.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, congratulated him. Trump called it a “great honor for our country.”
However, there are some concerns about Prevost’s past, especially regarding how he handled situations of abuse by priests, including claims that he allowed an abusive priest to stay near a school in Chicago.
When Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd, he paused before giving the Urbi et Orbi blessing. He said, “Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.”
To celebrate, the Empire State Building lit up in gold and white, and Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square waved U.S. flags. One person, Lisette Martinez, described the moment as “surreal” and “holy.”
Pope Leo XIV now has the challenging job of leading the global Church during a time of change, and the actions he takes early in his papacy could greatly influence the future of the Catholic Church.
