Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected First American Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago native and longtime missionary in Peru, has been elected as the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, taking the papal name Leo XIV. Prevost, aged 69, previously led the Vatican’s office responsible for selecting and managing bishops and was considered a leading candidate despite a historical taboo against a U.S.-born pope due to America's global influence. Prevost is also a naturalized Peruvian citizen, speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and has deep ties to both the U.S. and Latin America. His election was met with great celebration in St. Peter’s Square, as white smoke signaled the conclave's decision and crowds erupted in cheers and prayer. Prevost addressed the faithful, affirming God's love for all and stepping onto the balcony in the traditional papal regalia. He succeeds Pope Francis and is seen by many as his spiritual heir, given his recent prominence in the Vatican.