American cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the new pope.
Prevost was named Pope Leo XIV and is the 267th pontiff of the Roman catholic church.
Roman Catholic cardinals elected Prevost on just the second day of the conclave to find a successor to Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday.
Stepping out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 69 year old cardinal from Chicago greeted the faithful as Pope Leo XIV, the first American ever to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Cheers erupted across St. Peter’s Square as the traditional words were proclaimed: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” The world listened as the name was read aloud Robert Francis Prevost followed by his chosen papal name, Leo XIV.
Born in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV spent decades in religious service and theological scholarship.
He was a member of the Order of St. Augustine, a missionary in Peru, and a respected canon law expert.
Known for his humble demeanor, deep spiritual insight, and advocacy for social justice, Leo XIV has long been a bridge between tradition and progress.
