Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. This historic election makes him the first American to lead the Church and the 267th pontiff overall.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV has deep ties to Latin America, having spent over two decades in Peru as a missionary and later as the bishop of Chiclayo. He holds dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship and is a member of the Order of St. Augustine. His pastoral work and administrative leadership in Peru earned him respect across the Church, and he was appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 to head the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing global episcopal appointments.
The papal conclave that elected him concluded on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting over two days. White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 p.m. Rome time, signalling his selection. His election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
In his first address from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful with the words, “Peace be with all of you,” emphasising unity and reconciliation. He also paid tribute to his predecessor and spoke in Spanish to acknowledge his Peruvian roots and the broader Latin American community.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue the reformist and pastoral legacy of Pope Francis, with a focus on transparency, social justice, and engaging marginalised communities
