White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. CEST on May 8, 2025, announcing the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff in nearly two millennia. Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Prevost earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Villanova University before joining the Order of Saint Augustine and later completing a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His fluency in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese – and his reading knowledge of Latin and German – reflects decades of international service.
Prevost’s pastoral journey began with over twenty years in Peru, where he served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, championing outreach to the poor and migrants. In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, entrusting him with advising on episcopal appointments worldwide. His elevation to Cardinal-Bishop of Albano in February 2025 underscored his senior standing among church leaders.
The conclave began on May 7 with 133 cardinal electors gathered in the sealed Chapel under strict protocol; after four ballots, Prevost secured the requisite two-thirds majority Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti then proclaimed “Habemus Papam” from St. Peter’s Basilica balcony, and the bells rang out across Rome as thousands cheered in St. Peter’s Square.
Observers note Prevost’s reputation for synodality and inclusivity, key pillars of Pope Francis’s vision. He has been praised for balancing administrative acumen with a hands-on pastoral approach, particularly in environmental stewardship and social justice. In the United States, Bishop Mark O’Connell welcomed his election as “a moment of great joy for American Catholics,” while Vatican News highlighted the historic significance of an Augustinian leading the Church after centuries
Social media quickly trended #HabemusLeoXIV, with users celebrating and expressing hope for continued reform. As Pope Leo XIV prepares to shepherd over a billion Catholics worldwide, his blend of scholarly rigor and missionary zeal is seen as a unifying force at a pivotal moment for the Church.
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