VATICAN CITY — The Roman Catholic Church has entered a historic new chapter with the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary and Vatican official, as the first American-born pope in its 2,000-year history. The 69-year-old Augustinian friar and former bishop in Peru will now lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics under the name Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost appeared for the first time as pope on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica Thursday evening, greeted by a jubilant crowd of more than 150,000 faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Clad in the traditional red cape—reviving a papal garment set aside by Pope Francis—Leo XIV delivered his first words: “Peace be with you.”
Speaking in Italian and Spanish, but notably not his native English, Leo emphasized themes of peace, dialogue, and global evangelization, signaling a papacy rooted in unity across borders. “Help one another to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, uniting everyone to be one single people always in peace,” he told the cheering crowd.
Pope Leo XIV’s election is remarkable not only because of his American birth but also because of his international ministry and deep ties to Latin America. While born in Chicago’s South Side, Prevost spent much of his priestly life in Peru, eventually serving as bishop of Chiclayo and gaining a reputation for pastoral outreach and administrative reform. He most recently led the Dicastery for Bishops, a key office responsible for the global appointment of Catholic bishops.
Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and able to read Latin and German, Leo is seen as a culturally agile and linguistically gifted leader. He also holds Peruvian and Vatican citizenship in addition to his American nationality.
The choice to elect an American pontiff defied longstanding assumptions within the Vatican hierarchy. Traditionally, the idea of a pope from the U.S.—a global superpower with considerable political influence—was viewed as improbable. But Leo’s global pastoral background and his years outside of the U.S. helped broaden his appeal among the College of Cardinals.
In his inaugural address, Leo paid tribute to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 following a prolonged illness. Referencing Francis’ final Easter blessing, Leo said, “We still hold in our ears that weak yet ever courageous voice of Pope Francis… who gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world.”
Leo’s emergence followed two days of deliberation by 133 cardinal electors, who were locked in the Sistine Chapel since Wednesday. The white smoke that rose from the chapel’s chimney Thursday afternoon sent a clear signal to the Catholic world: Habemus Papam—“We have a pope.”
The announcement was made by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon, who formally introduced the new pontiff from the basilica’s loggia.
The election of Pope Leo XIV drew swift reactions across the globe, including from President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, highlighting the pope’s South Side roots, celebrated on X: “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.”
Former President Barack Obama also offered praise, writing, “Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States.”
Even amid the backdrop of war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin offered congratulations, underscoring the Vatican’s potential role in diplomacy. “We hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace,” Zelenskyy posted. Putin expressed confidence that cooperation between Moscow and the Holy See would continue “based on the Christian values that unite us.”
While Leo XIV’s election has been met with celebration, his record on clergy sexual abuse cases, especially during his tenure in Peru and as a former Augustinian superior, is expected to draw scrutiny. The Vatican has not yet commented on how he plans to address these matters during his papacy.
Back in Pennsylvania, Villanova University, where Leo earned a mathematics degree in 1977, erupted with excitement. University President Rev. Peter Donohue told MSNBC, “Not in my wildest dreams did I expect that a Villanova alum would become pope.”
As the Church turns a page in history with its first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV begins his leadership amid both hope and high expectations, tasked with continuing reform, confronting crises, and uniting an ever-diverse global Church.
