Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago waves to the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after being elected pope—the first American to assume the papacy in the history of the Catholic Church.
In a moment that stunned the world and electrified the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago was announced as the new pope—marking the first time in history that an American has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
He shall be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The crowd fell briefly silent before erupting into applause as the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the name “Prevost” rang out from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. At age 69, Pope Robert I now steps into one of the most influential spiritual roles on the planet, guiding over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
His election signals a remarkable shift in the Church’s global perspective and reflects growing influence from outside Europe, particularly the Americas.