For the first time in the Catholic Church’s history, cardinals have named an American to be the new pope.
Robert Francis Prevost, 69, received votes from at least 89 of the 133 cardinals in the conclave, a two-thirds majority, to become the new pontiff.
Prevost chose Pope Leo XIV as his papal name.
In his first words as pope, he told the crowd gathered “peace be with you.”
From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, history’s first American pope recalled he was an Augustinian priest, but that he was above all a Christian above all and a bishop, “So we can all walk together.”
He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
The new pope’s name was announced by the top cardinal, who uttered the words “Habemus Papam!” — Latin for “We have a pope!” — from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, revealing Prevost’s name in Latin as well as his chosen name to the cheers of the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square.
The announcement came after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday shortly after 6:07 p.m. local time or 12:07 p.m. ET, signifying the election of a new pope.
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The decision comes slightly more than two weeks since Pope Francis died on April 21, following a 12-year papacy.
Leo XIV was born in Chicago in 1955 to a French mother and an Italian-French father who served in World War II.
He joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He later joined an Augustinian mission in 1985.
The late pope, Francis, had appointed Leo XIV in 2023 to serve as thee head of the office which vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.
Cardinals were sequested and bound to secrecy during a conclave, where they cast at least four votes over the course of two days for the man they wanted to become pope.
The man chosen would have had to secure votes from at least 89 of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave, a two-thirds majority, in order to take on the role.
Until Thursday afternoon’s white smoke, only black smoke had billowed forth from the chimney on Wednesday evening local time and Thursday morning, both to signify no pope had been elected.
Reaction began to swiftly pour in following Pope Leo XIV taking the helm of the Catholic Church.
U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform called it “such an honour” that Leo XIV is the first American pope.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country,” he wrote. “I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
More to come.
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