Newspapers around the world on Friday covered the election of a new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, with big photos, plays on words and nods to his nationalities.
Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, made history as the first North American pope, and plenty of tabloids and broadsheets played up his background as an American.
Many newspapers used the Latin phrase “Habemus papam,” which means “We have a pope.” For English newspapers, it was a rare appearance of a foreign phrase in a headline.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France used that phrase, prompting cheers, after he emerged on the papal balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to introduce the new pope.
Overwhelmingly, newspapers ran with images of Leo XIV as he greeted the world as pope for the first time, waving to crowds from the papal balcony.
L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, which is in Italian, had a full-page spread with a Latin headline that translated to: “We have a Pope. Robert Francis Prevost who gave himself the name Leo XIV.”
Many foreign outlets highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s American roots.
The Irish Daily Mirror led with “Let U.S. Pray” and Le Temps, a Swiss French-language newspaper, went with “HabemUS Papam.”
The Sun, a British tabloid, declared “God Bless American.”
Newspapers in Chicago highlighted the pope, who grew up in Dolton, Ill., a Chicago suburb, as a hometown hero.
The Chicago Tribune claimed Pope Leo XIV for the city, writing “Chicago’s pope.”
The front page of The Chicago Sun-Times read “DA POPE!” in a cheeky allusion to the Chicago Bears, the football team nicknamed by fans as “Da Bears.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, which carried the headline “An American Pope,” was quick to note in a subhead that Pope Leo XIV is an alumnus of Villanova University, the Catholic school based in a Philadelphia suburb.
While Corriere della Sera of Milan said “Il Papa americano,” Peru’s Correo proclaimed “UN PAPA PERUANO.”
Though Pope Leo XIV is not of Peruvian birth, some in the country have claimed him as one of their own. He lived in Peru as a missionary for many years, before serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, from 2015 to 2023.
El Mercurio, a Chilean newspaper, compromised in its headline, calling Pope Leo XIV both Peruvian and American. (He is a dual citizen.)
Some newspapers decided to lead with the pope’s papal name instead of his background or nationality.
Plenty of outlets, from Diário de Notícias in Portugal and Libération in France, had headlines that said “Leo.” These outlets chose to publish a more pious posture, picturing Pope Leo XIV with his hands clasped in prayer.
Others quoted Pope Leo XIV’s first message as the leader of the Catholic Church: “‘Peace be with you,’” read The San Francisco Chronicle headline.
Simon J. Levien is a Times political reporter covering the 2024 elections and a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers.
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