VATICAN CITY — History was made on Thursday as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church—becoming the first American to hold the papacy. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The announcement was met with jubilation in St. Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands of faithful had gathered, their anticipation confirmed when white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney just after 6 p.m. Vatican time. Bells rang out across Rome, and the crowd erupted as the new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, smiling warmly and offering his first words: “Peace be with you.”
Prevost, 69, succeeds Pope Francis, the Argentinian pontiff who passed away last month at the age of 88 after a 12-year papacy marked by progressive reforms and internal tensions. His successor inherits a Church facing urgent challenges—from internal division and trust issues in the wake of sexual abuse scandals to maintaining moral leadership in an increasingly fractured world.
A Humble American Roots.
Born in Chicago, Prevost’s spiritual journey spans continents. He was ordained in 1982 and began serving in Peru in 1985 as part of the Augustinian mission. After briefly returning to Chicago in 1987, he resumed his work in Peru, eventually serving as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. His deep ties to Latin America have made him a respected bridge between North and South within the Church hierarchy.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, granting him significant influence over bishop appointments worldwide. That same year, he also became President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, further elevating his global Church profile.
You May Also Want to Read: Pope Francis Passes Away at 88: A Legacy of Faith, Humility, and Global Impact.
Global Applause and Local Pride.
The new pope’s election was met with celebration not only in Rome but back home in the United States. Church leaders in Chicago expressed a mixture of surprise and pride. At a press conference, Larry Sullivan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago, called the moment “a cause of great joy” and said, “It’s a day of great excitement for Chicago and the entire nation.”
Father Gregory Sakowicz, Rector of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, admitted to being “happily shocked,” adding with a smile, “Now one burning question I have is—since Pope Leo XIV was born on the South Side—is he a White Sox fan?”
More Read
A Church at a Crossroads.
Leo XIV assumes the papacy at a pivotal moment. The conclave that elected him was the most diverse in Church history, comprising 133 cardinal electors from five continents. Though details of the vote remain secret—as is tradition—it is known that the election concluded within two days, a timeframe consistent with recent history.
You May Also Want to Read: Pope Francis Laid to Rest as Leaders and Mourners Celebrate a People’s Pope.
He now stands at the helm of a Church seeking both healing and renewal. Observers say his blend of pastoral humility, administrative experience, and cross-cultural credibility positions him well to address both internal reform and external engagement.As the sun set over Vatican City, chants of “Viva il Papa!” filled the square, echoing a historic moment that reshaped the papacy—and set the course for a new chapter in Catholic leadership.
🎧 Listen to Newsrida Podcast
Get the full story — raw, unfiltered, and real. Tap play for exclusive insights beyond the written article.
