Robert Prevost Ascends: First American Elected as Pope Leo XIV Leads Catholic Church

Stay tuned for our real-time blog updates on the selection of Pope Leo XIV.

Vatican City: On Thursday evening, Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American-born missionary and high-ranking Vatican official, was chosen as the new pope, marking the first time in the church’s 2000-year existence that an American has held this position. He will take the title of Pope Leo XIV.

The announcement took place around 6:05 pm local time when white smoke started rising from the comignolo – the copper and steel flue situated above the Sistine Chapel – ascending into the evening skyline over Rome. The crowd in St Peter’s Square, which included pilgrims, visitors, and clerics, broke out into cheers and clapping.

Amidst a throng of elated pilgrims, the exclamation "habemus papam!" ("we have a pope") filled the air during a breathtaking Roman sunset. They celebrated the installation of the 267th pontiff through waving flags, enthusiastic cheers, and fervent prayers — a fleeting instance of global harmony in what can be a divided society.

Emerging onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to the roar of tens of thousands gathered below, the new pontiff’s first words were striking in their simplicity and resonance: “Peace be with you.”

"We should remain as one nation, forever at peace," he stated. Additionally, he honored his predecessor, Pope Francis, mentioning that "even in his final moments with a frail voice, his message echoed across the globe." The newly appointed pope stressed the importance of "constructing bridges" and reiterated this concept throughout his concise yet meticulously crafted speech.

The papal election held was the quickest one within a hundred years, outpacing the 2005 conclave where Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in roughly 36 hours. In this particular gathering, the cardinals made their choice in slightly over a day, having gone through multiple voting sessions until they agreed uponPrevost.

During his initial appearance as pope , Leo XIV did not speak English. Instead, he addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish, showcasing his missionary endeavors in South America, his tenure as a bishop in Peru, along with his period at the Vatican .

Pope Leo XIV stated that his followers should concentrate on "engaging in dialogue and spreading love," and emphasized that "compassion" ought to encompass everyone, particularly those undergoing hardships.

It is anticipated that this announcement will spark both celebrations and close examination, especially considering the intricate geopolitics involved as the Vatican navigates its changing dynamics with the United States and the wider Global South.

Within minutes, The US President, Donald Trump, shared his congratulations. On his Truth Social platform, he referred to the promotion of an American pope as "a tremendous honor."

Prevost, aged 69, was chosen by a historic number of 133 cardinals, with many having been named by Pope Francis. Despite being considered an underdog because of his American background, Prevost’s extensive experience as a bishop in Peru for more than twenty years positioned him well as a unifying choice among the candidates.

He became the youngest pope selected since Poland’s John Paul II, who took office following the second papal conclave in 1978. His predecessor, Pope John Paul I, held the position for only 33 days before passing away.

Before Francis passed away two weeks ago Previously, Prevost held the role of head at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, which is among the most influential administrative positions within the Church. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing the appointments and assessments of bishops worldwide, thereby wielding considerable power within the ecclesiastical structure.

Archbishop Tim Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, stated that his appointment indicates the insight found in the Italian proverb which suggests that "those who go into the conclave as a potential pope will come out as cardinals."

“He mentioned that Cardinal Prevost brought to his latest position as the head of the Dicastery for Bishops a demeanor marked by accessibility and a readiness to hear others, traits likely honed during his extensive tenure as an Augustinian missionary in Peru.”

He will receive a warm welcome from the churches in Latin America, similar to how Pope Francis was received, by the U.S. church due to his origins there, from the English-speaking community as someone who speaks their language natively, and from the entire church as an individual deeply grounded in the profound spiritual traditions of his Augustinian religious order.

Raised in Chicago and consecrated in 1982, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine and obtained his doctoral degree in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas located in Rome. Throughout his professional journey, he served as a missionary and an educator before becoming a bishop in Peru, where he also attained Peruvian citizenship and mastered the Spanish language.

Though he has kept a low media profile, Prevost is seen as ideologically aligned with Francis, particularly in prioritising outreach to the poor, care for migrants, and a less hierarchical vision of church leadership.

"The bishop shouldn’t act like a small monarch reigning over his territory," he stated during a Vatican interview last year — a comment that resonated with Pope Francis' criticism of clericalism.

Nevertheless, Pope Leo XIV’s records exhibit several traditional aspects as well. During an address in 2012, he condemned Western media outlets for fostering "empathy towards ideologies and behaviors contrary to the teachings of the Gospels," specifically mentioning same-sex households and what he referred to as the "gay way of life." Although he endorsed Francis’s approach to granting communion to divorced and remarried members of the Catholic Church, his support for blessing unions between individuals of the same sex was rather lukewarm.

During his tenure in Peru, his approach to clergy abuse cases is anticipated to face increased examination following his rise to the papacy.

Nevertheless, inside the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a unifying presence. His global background and discreet diplomatic skills enabled him to bridge the gaps between different ideologies and regions among the cardinals. While his papacy might signal a change in style compared to the more vocal approach of Francis, it doesn’t signify an overturning of his predecessor’s advancements.

The entire conclave procedure took place in complete confidentiality, with the cardinals handing over their cellphones and the Vatican using signal jamming equipment to stop any outside communications throughout the discussions.

Prior to the start of the conclave, various prominent individuals were tipped as likely winners. These included Pietro Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State; Luis Antonio Tagle, known for his progressive views and hailing from the Philippines; Péter Erdő, representing conservative leanings from Hungary; Robert Sarah, a cardinal from Guinea who has publicly voiced disapproval towards Pope Francis’s leadership; and Prevost.

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