History was made in Rome Thursday evening as Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary, was elected the first American pope in the Roman Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, setting off cheers across St. Peter’s Square as bells tolled and crowds erupted with joy. Moments later, the 69-year-old appeared from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, greeting thousands gathered below in his first public appearance as pontiff.
Prevost was elected on the second day of the conclave by 133 cardinals from around the world, reaching the two-thirds majority required to select a new pope. The solemn ritual marks the transition of leadership for the church’s 1.4 billion members following the death of Pope Francis last month.
Known for his work as an Augustinian missionary in Peru and most recently as head of the Vatican’s powerful Congregation for Bishops, Pope Leo XIV brings a pastoral and globally minded perspective to the papacy.
After his election, Prevost entered the Room of Tears—where popes traditionally confront the enormity of their new role—before emerging in papal white to accept the call.
The moment was historic not just for the United States, but for the broader church, signaling what many see as a continued shift toward a more diverse and globally representative leadership.
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