New York resident Robert Prevost has been announced as the latest Pope, adopting the name Pope Leo XIV; President Trump offers his congratulations.
In a monumental decision, the Cardinals have chosen a new Pope – none other than Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, marking the very first time an American ascends to lead the Catholic Church! At 69 years old, Prevost, now named Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the 267th Pope after the Cardinals gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.
Soon after, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon, appeared on the St. Peter's balcony and declared, "We have a Pope!" The excited crowds below let out a collective cheer as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
US President Donald Trump was among the first world leaders to express his warm congratulations, stating, "I am thrilled to recognize Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American Pope! I am eagerly looking forward to our meeting, Pope Leo XIV. May this encounter be a memorable moment for our nation!"
Stepping out onto the balcony, Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd with peace, his first words echoing through the square, "May peace be with all of you." He continued, addressing his fellow faithful, invoking an expression of peace to reach their families wherever they may be.
Remarkably, prior to his election, Prevost stood by his predecessor, Pope Francis, during his hospitalization and led the Rosary for his health in Saint Peter's Square.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1955, Prevost comes from a diverse background – his father, Louis Marius Prevost, having French and Italian descent and his mother, Mildred Martinez, being of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.
As a promising student, Prevost first studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and later at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, earning a Degree in Mathematics. In 1977, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine, committing to the religious order. He took his solemn vows in 1981 and received theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. In Rome, he was ordained a priest in 1982 and went on to obtain his licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
Pope Leo XIV is a dynamic leader, applying his expertise as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023, taking an essential role in selecting bishops and investigating allegations against them. He is fluent in multiple languages and is known to have passions for sports such as tennis and association football, notably supporting the Peruvian club Alianza Lima and the Chicago White Sox baseball team.
With his devoted spirit and profound dedication to the Church, Pope Leo XIV embarks on the latest chapter of this remarkable legacy, aiming to create a message of peace that resonates throughout the world. As the new Pope, he will undoubtedly lead with wisdom, grace, and devotion, upholding the traditions of the Catholic Church while embracing the challenges of the modern world.
Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, expressed his desire for peace for all in his first public address from the balcony, echoing a sentiment that he had demonstrated earlier while praying for the health of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Born in an American city, Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV comes from a multicultural background with roots in France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. Besides his religious pursuits, he also shares a passion for sports, particularly tennis and association football, supporting teams such as Alianza Lima from Peru and the Chicago White Sox.
