VATICAN CITY — American Robert Prevost was announced Thursday as the new pope, taking the papal name Leo XIV.
He will be the first American pope. Leo waved to the crowd assembled in St. Peter’s Square, greeting them with the words “Peace be with all of you.”
Born in Chicago, to a French father, the 69-year-old has spent much of his clerical life abroad in Peru, and is fluent in Spanish and Italian. He was expected to garner support from Latin American and U.S. cardinals. He has been president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023, the same year he became a cardinal.
He had shown particular attention to the marginalized and migrants in Peru, which was appreciated by the former pope, Francis, who died last month.
However, he has also been accused of failing to punish historic abuse by priests.
Congrats from Trump
The white smoke had emerged earlier Thursday from a specially installed ceremonial chimney to announce that the Catholic Church had chosen its next leader after intense discussions in the Sistine Chapel.
Bells rang out in St Peter’s Square and thousands of pilgrims, tourists and curious Romans looked on as the fabled white smoke streamed into the sky, indicating that the 133 sequestered cardinals had voted by a two-thirds majority for a new clergyman to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Pope Francis died after a stroke on Easter Monday, aged 88, leaving behind a church riven with divisions. His death kicked off fraught discussions between cardinals over a candidate who they hope can unite the church.
U.S. President Donald Trump said: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Reaction
Tourists and pilgrims sprinted to get a privileged view of the Basilica’s balcony, crowding up against and occasionally tripping over the security perimeter outside the main square as bells chimed and TV camera crews from around the globe rolled into action.
The pontifical Swiss Guard Band trooped through St. Peter’s Square followed by a brigade of Swiss guards, in their pantaloons and red-plumed helmets, and carrying lances.
“I think the cardinals have finally understood the importance of a pope who can communicate in English around the world but he’s also a moderate within insider-outsider experience and he’s American, but he’s also Latin American […] he’s the perfect pontiff for present moment,” Miles Pattenden, Church historian and lecturer at history faculty in Oxford.
67-year-old Craig Burwell from Connecticut saw him as a potential American counterpoint to MAGA Trumpism: “He was born American but from what I understand he was a missionary and spent most of his life in Peru,” he said.
His wife, Jane, also 67, interrupted: “I think it’s great that we reenergize the Catholic Church every time we get a new pope — the last two were fabulous.”
“I think this will make a big difference to Catholics in America,” Craig added. “It’ll draw them back to the church. It’ll give them a stake.”
Jane concurred, saying it was also a reminder that “not everyone in America is a MAGA.”
Alessandro Lupi, 45, wearing a yellow cardigan and sporting a salt and pepper beard, was manifestly disappointed as he traipsed out of the square. “I don’t know who he is,” he said.
This story has been updated.
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