Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV, First American to Lead Catholic Church

History was made in Vatican City today as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the first American pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old Chicago native was chosen on the fourth ballot of the conclave, following the death of Pope Francis in April. His election was officially announced with white smoke rising above the Sistine Chapel and a formal declaration from Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.

A member of the Augustinian Order and longtime Vatican official, Leo XIV previously led the Dicastery for Bishops and spent much of his ministry in Peru. Despite being from the U.S., the new pope addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish when he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, drawing cheers from thousands gathered below—many waving American flags.

With his election, Pope Leo XIV becomes the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, now leading over a billion Catholics worldwide. President Trump congratulated him on Truth Social, calling it "an honor" to see an American take the role. It’s a historic moment not just for the Church, but for the U.S.—marking a shift in global religious leadership unlike anything seen before.