For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, is now Pope Leo XIV.
The decision was made Thursday behind closed doors in the Vatican, where 133 cardinals gathered for a secretive conclave. After two days of voting, white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the Church had a new pope.
Cheers erupted across St. Peter’s Square as the 69-year-old walked onto the balcony overlooking the crowd. Wearing the traditional white and red, he greeted the world with three simple words: “Peace be with you.” He delivered his first speech in Italian, Spanish, and Latin—not English.
Prevost takes over after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away last month at 88. He becomes the 267th leader of the Catholic Church, which has over 1 billion followers worldwide.
Pope Leo XIV’s path to the papacy wasn’t typical. Though born in the U.S., he spent 20 years in Peru as a missionary, teacher, parish priest, and bishop. He became a citizen there and was brought to the Vatican in 2023 by Pope Francis to head the office in charge of vetting new bishops.
While any Catholic man can technically become pope, the real choice always comes from within the College of Cardinals—and only cardinals under age 80 can vote. Of the 133 electors, 108 were appointed by Francis himself, shaping the outcome even after his death.
This conclave was one of the most diverse in church history. Cardinals came from 71 countries—more than ever before. The majority of votes came from outside Europe, a strong sign that the Church is shifting.
President Donald Trump reacted within minutes of the announcement. “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Just weeks ago, Trump had joked about wanting to become pope himself. He even posted a fake image online showing him dressed in papal robes. Church officials didn’t laugh. The response from Catholic leaders was sharp—calling it “deeply offensive,” “sad,” and “unfortunate.”
Trump and Pope Francis rarely saw eye-to-eye, often clashing on issues like immigration and climate change. Whether Pope Leo XIV will continue Francis’ legacy—or take the Church in a new direction—remains to be seen.
