Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is from Chicago
A new pope has been elected. Robert Francis Prevost, the first American pope, has been selected by the papal conclave to take over as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.
The new pontiff, who has taken the name Leo XIV, was chosen on day 2 of the conclave. It came over two weeks after the death of Pope Francis at age 88.
Prevost, 69, is a Chicago-born cardinal who previously served in Peru for two decades.
Just after 6 p.m. local time in Vatican City (noon ET), white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney as bells rang, which symbolized that the conclave had reached the two-thirds majority necessary for a new pope.
Previous votes, which resulted in black smoke coming from the chapel, meant that a vote was inconclusive and did not reach a decision.
The papal conclave began on May 7 with 133 electors, the largest number of voting cardinals in history.
A crowd of more than 10,000 people had gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday to await the results of the votes.
The newly elected pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was introduced to the world.
What the conclave looked like inside Sistine Chapel after Pope Leo was elected
Pope Leo XIV stands in the Sistine Chapel after being elected, Thursday. (Vatican Media/Francesco Sforza/Handout via Reuters)
The conclave, the centuries-old process used to elect a pope, is notoriously secretive. But the Vatican has released a couple of images from inside the Sistine Chapel following Pope Leo’s election on Thursday. They show him standing in front of the cardinal electors beneath Michelangelo’s “Last Judgement.”
Pope Leo XIV stands in the Sistine Chapel after being elected, Thursday. (Vatican Media/Francesco Sforza/Handout via Reuters)
Who is Robert Francis Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?
Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955. In addition to English, the new pope speaks Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese; he can read Latin and German.
He is the first Augustinian pope, according to the Vatican, which means he belongs to a Catholic order known for its commitment to community and sharing.
Prevost attended secondary school at an Augustinian seminary and officially joined the order in 1977. In between, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Villanova University.
Prevost went on to spend much of his adult life abroad, in Peru.
From 1999 to 2014, Prevost worked in Chicago, where he first led the city’s Augustinian Province and then served two six-year terms as head of the Augustinians. Like other cardinals, he has been criticized for his dealings there with priests accused of sexual abuse.
President Trump welcomes news of an American pope
President Trump welcomed the news of the first American pope and congratulated Cardinal Robert Prevost in a post on social media, writing:
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Obama congratulates new pope, a fellow Chicagoan
In a social media post, former President Barack Obama congratulated fellow Chicagoan Robert Prevost for being elected the new pontiff, calling it a “historic day.”
What happens now?
Usually, within a week of a new pontiff being elected, a ceremonial Mass is held either in St. Peter’s Square or the Basilica to formally install the new pope.
In attendance at the Mass will be cardinals, bishops and other international dignitaries.
Modern ceremonies are more modest and have abandoned much of the pageantry once
Here’s what the crowd looked like as Pope Leo was introduced
Tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to see and hear from Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost.
Here’s a view of the crowd via Reuters photographer Murad Sezer.
The crowd at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Thursday. (Murad Sezer/Reuters)
New pope outlines his vision for the Catholic Church, pays tribute to Pope Francis
In his first remarks after being chosen as the new pontiff today (Thursday), Pope Leo XIV outlined his vision for the Catholic Church.
“We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue,” he said, according to an English translation of his remarks, which were mostly in Italian. He also called on people to “show our charity” to others “and be in dialog with love.”
He also paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, saying: “Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter. Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.”
The new pope moves Leo up the all-time name list
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is the 14th pontiff to carry the name Leo as head of the Catholic church.
There have been more than 250 popes altogether, and some names have been reused many times. Thanks to the new pope, Leo now moves into a tie for fourth most-common papal name with Clement. The only names used more times than Leo are Benedict (15 times), Gregory (16 times) and John (21 times).
What else we know about Pope Leo
Pope Leo XIV waves from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)
We’re quickly learning more about Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American to be elected pontiff.
Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago but spent more than two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, according to the New York Times.
He rose through the religious ranks from there, running the Vatican office that selects and manages bishops around the world. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis less than two years ago.
He speaks Spanish and Italian and is “often described as reserved and discreet,” the New York Times reported.
Leo XIV says, ‘Peace be with you’ in 1st words as new pope
Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican before a massive cheering crowd on Thursday and looked visibly emotional. His first words as pope were, “Peace be with you.”