Throughout history there have been 266 cardinals who have been elected to become the head of the Catholic faith. St. Peter, one of Jesus’ original twelve apostles, is considered to be the religion’s first pope, as he is believed to have created the first Catholic church in Rome. Over the church’s 2,000 year history there have been countless popes, all hailing from Europe. But never before had there been an American pope, and it seemed very unlikely that it would ever happen. That was true until Robert Prevost was elected on May 8, 2025, shocking the world.
So, who is Pope Leo XIV?
When Robert Prevost was announced as the newest pope of the Catholic church, many viewers and analysts were left shocked to see an American walk onto the balcony of the Vatican, overlooking the waves of supporters awaiting the next pope. Soon after his election, Prevost would take the name Pope Leo XIV, representing a newborn strength and leadership. So, who is the newest pope? Robert Prevost was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1955. Early into his life he was already heavily involved with the church. Later on he would graduate from Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, earning a Master’s of Divinity. Prevost would also go to the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas where he received a doctorate in canon law according to CBS News. After serving as an altar boy, Prevost would soon be named a priest in 1982. In 2014, Pope Fransis would name him the Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru after preaching there for several years according to the BBC. In 2023, Prevost would finally be named as an official cardinal and as the head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission in Latin America according to AP News.
Prevost’s election was not the first election surprise the Catholic world has ever seen. Over a decade ago, Jorge Bergoglio, would be the first pope ever to be elected from South America, specifically Buenos Aires, Argentina. He would soon be known as Pope Francis beginning on March 13, 2013. During his pontificate Francis acted as a major peacemaker in world politics, leading widespread reforms within the Catholic church system and with his preachings for acceptance of both people and nature. As a result of his work, Francis was cherished by millions around the world, so when the news went out on his sudden passing on April 21, 2025, many were left in shock, especially being a day after Easter Sunday. With a vacancy now within the Catholic church, cardinals from all over the world flocked into Vatican City to participate in the papal conclave.
The conclave officially began on May 7, 2025. In order for a cardinal to be elected as the new pope of the Catholic church they need to receive two-thirds of the votes. During voting, the results are only released to the public once a new pope is officially chosen. Coming into the conclave, the media largely presented Pietro Parolin from Italy and Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines as the front runners to be elected. Under Pope Francis, Parolin was the Vatican’s secretary of state. Tagle has had a huge influence in Asia, according to the New York Times. Because of their presence within the Catholic church, it made sense why both of them gained such popularity and backing by the public. On the first day of voting the world saw black smoke release from the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope had not been chosen. On May 8, 2025, the second day of voting, people saw white smoke released by the chimney, showing that a new pope had been elected. For many this became a joyous and celebratory moment as they would soon see the next leader of the Catholic church. As the latin phrase, “Habemus papam!” rang around the Vatican, Robert Prevost would soon emerge onto the balcony, presenting himself to the public as the first American pope in history.
However much of a surprise it initially might have been, Pope Leo XIV provides hope to many in an uncertain time, especially with all the violence and rising tensions the world is experiencing right now. In interviews after his election, Leo XIV has committed to not only continuing the work of Pope Francis, but to improve it as well according to CBS News. While there is a lot of optimism heading into the future, we can only watch and hope that the world can find peace once again.