First American Pope Elected – Cardinal Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV

In a historic milestone, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been chosen as the new Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. At 69, he is the first American-born pontiff, and his election was greeted with jubilation by Catholics around the world. Pope Leo XIV stepped onto St. Peter’s Basilica balcony to address a throng of pilgrims, delivering a heartfelt blessing. Many see his ascendancy as symbolizing the Church’s global reach, with U.S. Catholics feeling a special pride in one of their own leading over 1.3 billion faithful worldwide.