“History was made in Vatican City today as the Roman Catholic Church elected its first-ever American pope.”
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cleric and longtime Vatican official, has been chosen as the 267th pope. He will be known as Pope Leo the Fourteenth.
The decision came after a remarkably swift conclave, lasting less than 24 hours. One hundred and thirty-three cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel, casting their votes in four ballots before reaching the required two-thirds majority.
White smoke billowed from the chapel chimney late this afternoon, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen. Moments later, the announcement rang out from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Habemus Papam”—“We have a pope.”
Prior to his election, Pope Leo served in key roles within the Vatican, including oversight of bishop appointments. He is multilingual and spent years as a missionary in Peru—an experience that shaped his pastoral approach.
In his first public address, the new pope spoke of healing, peace, and global dialogue, themes that are expected to shape his papacy. The election of an American to the papal throne marks a milestone in the Church’s history and reflects the growing influence of the Catholic community in the Americas.
