BREAKING NEWS: Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as First American Pope, Takes Name Leo XIV
Vatican City – May 8, 2025
In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., has been elected as the 267th Supreme Pontiff, becoming the first American pope in history. The 69-year-old Chicago-born prelate chose the name Pope Leo XIV, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21,2025.
A Momentous Decision
After five intense rounds of voting over three days, the College of Cardinals reached a two-thirds majority for Cardinal Prevost, a surprise choice who had not been widely named among the leading papabili (potential popes). His election signals a shift toward a pope with deep pastoral experience, administrative skill, and a strong connection to the Global South.
Emerging on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pope greeted the crowd with a warm smile, saying in clear Italian: “With a humble heart, I accept this great responsibility. Let us walk together in faith, hope, and love.”
Who Is Pope Leo XIV?
Born in Chicago in 1955, Robert Prevost joined the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) and was ordained a priest in 1982. He spent decades as a missionary in Peru, later serving as Bishop of Chiclayo before Pope Francis named him a cardinal in 2023. As Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he played a key role in selecting church leaders worldwide.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—is seen as a unifying figure who can bridge divides between the Vatican, the Americas, and the developing world.
