US Cardinal Robert Prevost Gets Elected As New Pope | In a historic and unexpected move, US Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming Pope Leo XIV and the first American pontiff in the Church’s 2,000-year history.
The announcement was made Thursday evening, just over an hour after white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signalling that the 133 cardinal electors had reached a two-thirds majority. Prevost, 69, stepped onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, greeting thousands of cheering faithful in St. Peter’s Square.
“Habemus Papam”: World Meets Pope Leo XIV
The moment was made official by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, who declared the iconic Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” — We have a pope — before revealing Prevost’s papal name: Leo XIV.
Born in Chicago, Prevost spent much of his clerical life as a missionary in Peru and was only elevated to cardinal in 2023, making his swift rise to the papacy all the more surprising. Known for his modest public presence and minimal media exposure, Pope Leo XIV now assumes leadership of the Church’s 1.4 billion global members at a time of profound transformation and debate.
Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, after a transformative 12-year reign. Francis, the first Latin American pope, pushed for progressive reforms, championed social justice, and encouraged debate on contentious issues including the ordination of women and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
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Now, eyes turn to Pope Leo XIV and whether he will continue the Francis-era reforms or shift toward a more traditionalist vision of Catholicism.
A Divided Conclave, A Unified Church?
Leading up to the conclave, speculation had centred on high-profile figures like Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines. Prevost’s election is seen by many as a compromise candidate, capable of bridging reformist and conservative wings of the Church.
While not a vocal figure, those who know Pope Leo XIV describe him as deeply spiritual, pastoral, and committed to the Church’s missionary roots — qualities that may define his papacy.
