Islamabad, May 8, 2025: Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected the new leader of the Catholic Church, assuming the name Pope Leo XIV.
He is the first American to ever hold the papacy.
White smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday confirmed that the 133 cardinal electors had reached a decision, selecting the 69-year-old to guide the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Shortly after, Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to address a cheering crowd in Vatican City.
In his first public remarks, the new pope extended a message of peace in fluent Italian and later spoke briefly in Spanish. Notably, he did not speak in English despite his American roots.
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The former Chicago native has spent most of his life in Peru as a missionary and has maintained a low media profile since being named a cardinal in 2023.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted quickly to the news, calling Prevost’s election an “honour for our country” and expressing eagerness to meet the new pope.
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month after leading the Church for 12 years.
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Francis, the first Latin American pope, was known for introducing reforms and opening discussions on sensitive topics like the role of women and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Church.
In his address, Leo XIV expressed gratitude to his predecessor and echoed his message of building a compassionate, engaged Church—especially one that serves the suffering.
Though some cardinals had hoped for a return to older traditions, Leo’s election appears to signal a continued commitment to Francis’ vision.
Wearing traditional red vestments over a white cassock, Leo also broke from Francis’ simpler style.
He previously served as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, and later led a Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops, placing him at the heart of Church leadership decisions.
