Catholic Church: Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV, First American Pontiff

The conclave gathered at the Vatican designated, this Thursday, May 8, the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. It is American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who becomes the 267th Pope in history under the name Leo XIV.

St. Peter's Square erupted in joy late in the afternoon when the long-awaited white smoke escaped from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. A clear symbol: the Catholic Church has a new sovereign pontiff. At the end of the second day of the conclave, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti proclaimed the name of the new elect: Robert Francis Prevost, American Cardinal, now Pope Leo XIV.

Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Robert Francis Prevost thus becomes the very first Pope from the United States. At 69 years old, he succeeds Francis, who passed away on April 21, and embodies a new page in the history of the Catholic Church.

He entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, pronouncing his solemn vows in 1981 after studying theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Ordained a priest in 1982, he continued his formation in canon law in Rome. His vocation then led him to Peru, where he held numerous responsibilities: professor, director of formation, judicial vicar, prior, and director of missions in the dioceses of Chulucanas and Trujillo.

Elected twice as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, in 2001 and 2007, he was then appointed by Pope Francis as apostolic administrator of Chiclayo in 2014, then titular bishop of Sufar. He was ordained bishop on December 12, 2014, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and became Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.

Since 2018, he has been vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Peru. In 2023, he was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a position of great importance in the governance of the Church.

Shortly after his election, Leo XIV addressed the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square: « Que la paix soit avec vous tous », he said in Italian, before speaking a few words in Spanish, notably greeting the Peruvian people. The new Pope insisted on the necessity to « construire des ponts par le dialogue », calling for a Church « proche de ceux qui souffrent » and « ouverte à tous ».

U.S. President Donald Trump reacted immediately on Truth Social, hailing a « grand honneur » for the United States and expressing his wish to meet the new head of the Church.

Praised for his humility, his listening skills, and his international experience, Leo XIV will have the arduous task of continuing the reforms initiated by Pope Francis, while maintaining the unity of a Church facing major spiritual, social, and ethical challenges.