Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff in History

8 May 2025, 9:12 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope, making history as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

The 69-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

Prevost’s election came after just two days of deliberations by the College of Cardinals, signaling a strong early consensus.

His selection breaks centuries of European papal tradition and marks a significant moment for the 1.4 billion-member global church.Before his appointment, Prevost served as the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, where he oversaw the selection and vetting of new bishops worldwide.

He also led the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and is a longtime member of the Augustinian religious order.

Though born in the U.S., Prevost spent over a decade as a missionary in Peru and later served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023.

His extensive service in South America is believed to have eased concerns among some cardinals who had traditionally resisted electing an American pope, fearing it would signal undue U.S. political influence on the papacy.

AdvertisementVatican watchers describe Pope Leo XIV as a calm, even-handed leader known for his clear vision and quiet effectiveness.

Pope Leo XIV holds degrees in mathematics and theology and studied canon law in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1982.

In past interviews, he has expressed a deep commitment to missionary work, saying he still considers himself a missionary at heart.

As prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he supported Pope Francis’ inclusion of women in key decision-making roles, describing their contributions as “real, genuine, and meaningful.”

On the issue of clerical abuse, he acknowledged that some dioceses have made progress, but insisted that more must be done.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue building on the reforms of Pope Francis, particularly in making the Church more inclusive and attentive to issues affecting the developing world.

His experience across continents positions him to lead a truly global papacy at a time of shifting religious and political landscapes.

The conclave’s decision to elect an American with deep ties to Latin America signals a broader outlook and may reflect the cardinals’ desire for a leader who can unify a divided church while navigating modern challenge