Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost will take the name Leo XIV as he is elected the next Pope.
Vatican City: In a historic development, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States has been elected as the new Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. The announcement was made on May 8, 2025, following the conclusion of the papal conclave held in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City.
Prevost becomes the first North American to ascend to the papacy, marking a significant milestone in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV said that he wants the message of peace to “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.” Paying tribute to Pope Francis, he urged the faithful to “move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.”
He also thanked fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role.
The conclave, convened after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, saw 133 cardinal electors gather to select the new pontiff. After four ballots over two days, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. CEST on May 8, signaling that a new Pope had been chosen.
Cardinal Prevost secured the required two-thirds majority to be elected as the 268th Pope of the Catholic Church.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982.
He served extensively in Peru, including as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, and became a naturalized Peruvian citizen.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role that significantly raised his profile within the Church hierarchy.
Pope Leo XIV’s election is seen as a reflection of the Church’s growing emphasis on global inclusivity and outreach. His diverse background and experience in both North and South America are expected to influence his approach to addressing contemporary challenges facing the Church.
As Pope, Leo XIV inherits a Church grappling with issues such as declining attendance in Western countries, calls for greater transparency, and the need for continued engagement with marginalized communities.
Observers anticipate that his leadership will focus on pastoral care, social justice, and reinforcing the Church’s presence in the modern world.
