History Made: Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes first American Pope — takes the name Leo XIV

Now that the white smoke has cleared, history is being written.

The Roman Catholic Church has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago as its new leader. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV and will be the first American pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history.

French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti made the dramatic announcement Thursday night from the renowned balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, saying, “Habemus Papam!” (A pope is here!)

The 69-year-old, wearing brand-new white papal robes, entered the balcony to roaring cheers and shouts of “Viva il Papa!” from a crowded St. Peter’s Square.

From Illinois to the Vatican

Pope Leo was raised at St. Mary of the Assumption parish, which is close to Dolton, Illinois, and was born in the south suburbs of Chicago. However, his path to the pope has not been typical.

According to John Doughney, a former St. Mary’s classmate, “for him, it felt like a calling, but some of us dreamed of it as kids.”

After being ordained in 1982 and obtaining a doctorate in canon law in Rome, he served for twenty years in Peru, rising to the position of bishop of Chiclayo and even obtaining Peruvian citizenship.

Speaking Spanish and Italian fluently, Leo embodies what insiders refer to as a bridge pope—someone who can navigate the expanding diversity of the global church while preserving roots in both Latin and American traditions.

Will Leo Make a Good Pope?

Leo’s first words to the world were one of humility and solidarity. According to insiders, that has always been his style.

In a previous interview, Leo stated, “The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom.” “He is called to walk with the people, to suffer with them, and to be humble.”

In an interview with The New York Times, the Rev. Michele Falcone called him “the dignified middle of the road,” someone who could bring disparate Church factions together. In a conclave that was apparently split between conservatives and progressives, that probably helped him become a consensus candidate.

In contrast to establishment leaders like Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State and another favorite heading into the conclave, Leo was also viewed favorably by critics of Vatican bureaucracy.

According to Sacred Heart University Professor Daniel Rober, “he might have been perceived as less tainted by internal politics.”

Leo XIV: What Does It Mean?

Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church into the modern era in the 19th century, is referenced in the new pope’s chosen name, Leo. The title might indicate that, like his predecessor Pope Francis, he intends to combine tradition with contemporary pastoral outreach, albeit with his own emphasis and tone.

Some conjectured that his selection of Francis II would have signified almost complete continuity. Instead, Leo proposes a minor change.

A Worldwide Pope, A Worldwide Conclave

With cardinals from Burma, Tonga, Cape Verde, and other recently represented countries, this year’s conclave was among the most internationally diverse in its history.

A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope, and after only three rounds, the threshold was unexpectedly reached by the 133 cardinals who cast ballots.

According to Mary Hallan FioRito, a fellow of the Catholic Association, “each pope brings his own distinct personality, but each papacy builds upon the last.”

Now, Pope Leo XIV assumes one of the most demanding spiritual positions on the planet: guiding more than a billion Catholics through a world that is becoming more complicated and divided.

For the time being, however, history has been made, the bells are ringing, and the crowds are cheering.

Related Posts

Scientist Warn That Massive Flooding and Tsunamis Could Hit 3 Major Regions in the U.S.

Scientists have revealed the three most dangerous tsunami zones in the United States—and the threat is far more real, and far closer, than most people think. The…

THE DAY I SAVED THREE BABY GOATS AND FINALLY UNDERSTOOD MY MOTHER’S LAST WORDS

I never meant to stop at that roadside auction. I was just driving home from clearing out Mom’s house—her last box of sweaters still in the backseat,…

NO ONE SHOWED UP TO MY 63RD BIRTHDAY EXCEPT A COURIER WITH A CAKE THAT READ, “WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID.”

My name is Dorothy, and for 63 years, I’ve carried both joy and shadows. It’s been just me and my two beautiful children for most of that…

FIRST-CLASS PASSENGERS MOCKED A JANITOR — UNTIL THE CAPTAIN STEPPED IN AND SAID THIS

“I’m not sitting next to him,” the woman huffed, adjusting her designer handbag and shooting a look of disdain at the older man beside her. “Ma’am, that’s…

My Wife Left Me With The Kids When I Lost My Job But Years Later The Tables Would Turn

Nothing is more important to us as a family than to develop as a unit and get stronger over time. However, there are instances when our plans…

Two girls orphaned after dad dies in Air India crash, 2 weeks after mom died of cancer

Two weeks after their mother passed away from cancer, two young girls lost their father in the July 12 Air India plane crash, leaving them orphans. Heartbreaking…