History Made: American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV

For the first time in history, an American has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois, has officially been named the 267th pope and will now be known as Pope Leo XIV.

A Momentous Decision

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on the second day of the conclave, signaling the decision had been made. Pope Leo XIV will soon make his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, offering his inaugural blessing as the new spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

His election came swiftly—mirroring the pace of recent conclaves—which suggests he quickly earned the trust and support of his fellow cardinals.

A Global Church, A Global Leader

Pope Leo XIV, 69, brings decades of international experience to the papacy. Though born and raised in the U.S., he spent much of his religious life in Peru, serving in missionary roles and eventually becoming the bishop of Chiclayo, where he led from 2014 to 2023.

Before that, he led the Augustinian order globally as its prior general, giving him deep experience managing diverse communities across the world.

Most recently, he headed the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, the office responsible for selecting bishops around the globe. In this role, he also served as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, helping shape the leadership of the Catholic Church throughout the region.

A Calm, Balanced Vision

Vatican analysts describe Pope Leo XIV as a leader with both humility and strength—someone who brings people together without imposing his will.

“He’s calm, even-handed, and focused on what needs to be done,” said CNN’s Vatican analyst Elise Allen. “But he doesn’t push his vision with an iron fist. He’s a consensus builder.”

Allen also emphasized his global perspective, which may have helped overcome concerns about selecting a U.S. pope—something historically avoided due to America’s geopolitical influence. “He’s from the West, but his deep roots in South America make him an international figure in every sense.”

A Lifelong Missionary

Pope Leo XIV has never strayed far from his missionary roots. Even in his latest Vatican roles, he referred to himself as a missionary, committed to spreading the Gospel wherever he’s called to serve.

His academic background includes a mathematics degree from Villanova University, theological training at Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, and canon law studies in Rome at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University. He was ordained in 1982 and spent years teaching canon law at a seminary in Trujillo, Peru.

Advocating for Reform and Inclusion

During his time at the Dicastery for Bishops, Pope Leo XIV welcomed the contributions of women who had joined the Vatican office, saying their involvement was “genuine and meaningful” in decision-making processes.

He also acknowledged ongoing challenges in confronting clerical abuse:

“There are places where good work has already been done… but there is still much to learn.”

What’s Next

As bells ring in St. Peter’s Square and the crowd eagerly awaits his first blessing, the world watches to see how Pope Leo XIV will shape the future of the Church. With a deep commitment to service, experience across continents, and a reputation for thoughtful leadership, his papacy begins with a spirit of hope and unity.

This is a developing story. More updates to follow.