VATICAN CITY — In a moment of historic significance, Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago—delivered his first words as pope without uttering a single sentence in English, despite being the first pontiff born in the United States. Instead, the 69-year-old spiritual leader addressed the world in Italian, the traditional language of the Vatican, and then in fluent Spanish, which he spoke for decades while ministering in Peru.
Observers saw this linguistic decision as more than symbolic. Jesuit priest and theologian Bruce Morrill of Vanderbilt University said the choice of languages reflected Leo XIV’s pastoral focus and global sensibility. Morrill noted that the pope’s first role is “bishop of Rome,” emphasizing his direct connection to the local church in Italy before the broader responsibilities of leading the global Catholic community. According to Morrill, the initial use of Italian acknowledged that role, while the Spanish served as a natural nod to the pope’s years of missionary work and leadership in Latin America. The absence of English, he said, underlined the new pope’s humility and alignment with his spiritual origins rather than his nationality.
The fact that an American was chosen at all surprised many within the Church and beyond. Conventional wisdom held that the geopolitical dominance of the United States made it unlikely that a U.S.-born cardinal would ever be elected pope. Yet Leo XIV’s international career—spanning from his service in Peru to his work in Rome—has given him a global pastoral footprint that transcends national identity.
Morrill also pointed out the significance of the pope’s name. By choosing “Leo XIV,” the new pontiff evoked Pope Leo XIII, known for authoring the Catholic Church’s first modern encyclical on social justice and workers’ rights. The reference, Morrill said, suggests a commitment to advancing the Church’s role in addressing contemporary societal needs, from labor protections to global inequality. In Morrill’s view, Leo XIV appears poised to extend that legacy with a socially engaged papacy grounded in compassion and reform.
Leo XIV’s path to the papacy has been anything but conventional. In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, placing him at the center of one of the Church’s most influential offices. In that role, Prevost was responsible for overseeing the selection and vetting of bishops from dioceses around the world—making him a key figure in shaping the Church’s leadership. His prominence at the Vatican leading up to the papal conclave set him apart from many of his fellow cardinals and made his candidacy a serious one as deliberations began.
The new pope is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, a religious order that emphasizes communal living and a spiritual journey rooted in unity and mutual love. Known for their motto—“to live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God”—the Augustinians have long been influential in Catholic theology and education. Pope Leo XIV joins a lineage that includes six other Augustinian popes throughout Church history, placing him in a tradition that values intellectual rigor, service to the poor, and spiritual introspection.
Leo XIV was elected during a conclave that began after the death of Pope Francis on April 21. A total of 135 cardinals participated in the highly secretive process inside the Sistine Chapel. During the voting, the cardinals were isolated from all outside communication, and the ballots cast remain confidential. The process concluded when white smoke rose from the chapel chimney, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen.
As the bells rang across Vatican City and “Habemus Papam” echoed from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV stepped into the global spotlight. His first appearance suggested a leader both aware of his American heritage and deeply committed to serving a universal Church with humility, compassion, and a keen understanding of its global challenges.
