History was made today as Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native and longtime missionary, was elected the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first American ever to ascend to the papacy. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost was greeted with thunderous applause from thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square as he stepped onto the Vatican balcony to deliver his first address. “May peace be with all of you,” he told the crowd, offering a message of unity and hope.
The former archbishop, known for his reform-minded approach, spent many years serving in Peru, where he was deeply involved in pastoral and missionary work before being elevated to the episcopacy. His election marks a notable shift for the Church, signaling an embrace of global leadership beyond its traditional European roots.
As bells rang out across the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV concluded his inaugural speech with a prayer to the Virgin Mary, inviting the crowd to join him. The square echoed with cheers and music from the Carabinieri military police band as he offered his first apostolic blessing.
The new pontiff’s background as a missionary and his reputation as a pastoral leader are expected to shape a papacy focused on inclusion and renewal, drawing from his deep experience in Latin America and his roots in the United States.
Watch the moment he was announced live above.
