Robert Francis Prevost Elected as First American Pope, Takes Name Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost has made history as the first American to lead the Catholic Church after being elected by the College of Cardinals on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The 267th pope in history, Prevost will serve as Pope Leo XIV, succeeding Pope Francis who recently passed away.

The historic election took place in Vatican City, with white smoke signaling the conclusion of the conclave. Prevost's selection marks a significant shift as the first pontiff from the United States in the church's two-thousand-year history. The new pope holds dual citizenship with Peru and the United States.

Prevost, who was born in Chicago, has strong ties to Peru where he served the church for many years. His election is viewed as particularly meaningful for the Catholic Church in the Americas, which represents a substantial portion of the global Catholic population.

The new pontiff is reportedly supportive of reforms initiated during his predecessor's papacy. His election generated significant global attention, including an unusual amount of interest from outside traditional religious circles, with social media buzzing about the historic announcement.

As Pope Leo XIV, Prevost now faces the challenge of leading the world's 1.3 billion Catholics during a time of significant religious and geopolitical challenges.