Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV. VATICAN

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first American-born pontiff in history. The 69-year-old cardinal took the name Pope Leo XIV and appeared before a jubilant crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday evening (May 8), just moments after white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the successful conclusion of the papal conclave. Cries of “Habemus papam (We have a pope)!” rang out from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, echoing centuries of tradition as tens of thousands erupted in applause, tears, and celebration. Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month at age 88 after a 12-year papacy that redefined global Catholic leadership. The conclave, which began on Wednesday, brought together 133 cardinals from 70 countries. Sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel and cut off from outside communication, the cardinals followed centuries-old customs in selecting the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Prevost’s election required a two-thirds majority vote and came after days of spiritual reflection, chanting of the Litany of the Saints, and multiple ballots. Known in Vatican circles as the “Latin Yankee,” Pope Leo XIV brings a unique combination of American roots, Latin American missionary experience, and Vatican governance. Born on the South Side of Chicago, he served two decades in some of Peru’s most impoverished communities, eventually becoming a naturalized Peruvian citizen and a bishop in the Diocese of Chiclayo. “He’s right out of Francis’s playbook,” said Kathleen Sprows Cummings, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. “A pastoral heart, managerial experience, and vision — he ticks off all the boxes of a future pope.” Prevost was appointed by Pope Francis to several key Vatican roles, including head of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In 2022, he oversaw a historic move by Pope Francis to add three women to the Vatican body that evaluates bishop nominations. Despite this rise, his path has not been without controversy. Allegations surfaced regarding Prevost’s handling of sexual abuse cases in both Peru and the US. In Chicago, a priest found to have abused minors was reportedly housed near a Catholic school. In Peru, two priests in his former diocese were accused of molesting young girls, with critics claiming he failed to fully investigate. The Vatican has denied any wrongdoing on Prevost’s part. “Given what we know about the pervasiveness of clerical sexual abuse... it’s entirely conceivable that he failed to act decisively... but, sadly, that’s true of almost all the men who occupied positions of high leadership in the Catholic Church,” Cummings added. Born in 1955, Prevost was raised in a devout Catholic family in Chicago. His mother, of Spanish descent, was a librarian, and his father, of French and Italian heritage, was an educator and catechist. He served as an altar boy and studied at seminary high school before earning a degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He was ordained in 1982 and later earned a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Twice elected as head of the Augustinian Order — a religious community focused on communal life and simplicity — Prevost became known for his dedication to marginalized communities and his multilingual fluency. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. In a 2023 interview with Vatican News, he described his vision for church leadership: “One must not give in to the temptation to live isolated, separated in a palace, satisfied with a certain social level or a certain level within the church. And we must not hide behind an idea of authority that no longer makes sense today... The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers.” His choice of the name Leo XIV suggests a desire to evoke the legacy of past reformers. Pope Leo XIII, who held the papacy from 1878 to 1903, was known for his intellectualism and modern engagement with the world. As the first pope from the United States, Pope Leo XIV enters office with both historic symbolism and the weight of expectation. His election comes at a time when the Church continues to grapple with internal reforms, abuse scandals, and shifting global dynamics.

Who is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost?

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., currently serves as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois in the US, he entered the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in 1977 and took his solemn vows on August 29, 1981. He studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago before being sent to Rome to pursue canon law studies at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, and earned his licentiate in 1984. His missionary journey began in 1985 in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru. In 1987, he completed his doctorate in canon law with a thesis on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.” That same year, he was appointed director of vocations and missions in his Augustinian province in Illinois. From 1988 to 1998, he served in Trujillo, Peru, leading the formation of Augustinian aspirants and holding roles such as community prior, director of formation, and professor. He was also Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Trujillo and taught canon, patristic, and moral law at the San Carlos e San Marcelo Major Seminary. In 1999, he was elected Provincial Prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province in Chicago. Two years later, he was elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order, a post he held until 2013. Upon his return to Chicago, he served as provincial vicar and formation teacher. Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, in November 2014, elevating him to bishop. He was consecrated on December 12, 2014. He officially became Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015 and later served as Vice President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference. His influence grew in the Roman Curia: in 2019, he was appointed to the Congregation for the Clergy, and in 2020, to the Congregation for Bishops. That same year, he was named Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Callao. On January 30, 2023, Cardinal Prevost was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals on September 30, 2023, assigning him the Deaconry of Santa Monica. CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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