White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel today, signaling a historic moment for the Catholic Church, the election of its first-ever American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, originally from Chicago, Illinois, has been chosen as the new leader of the worldwide Catholic community. He will now be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The decision was made after days of deliberation in the papal conclave, where 133 cardinals from across the globe cast their votes. To be elected, a candidate needed to secure a two-thirds majority.
Born in 1955, Pope Leo XIV brings a rich background in both education and service. He studied mathematics at Villanova University in Pennsylvania before pursuing theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He later moved to Rome, where he earned a degree in canon law from the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University.
Ordained in 1982, Pope Leo XIV has served the Church in many roles, including teaching canon law at a seminary in Trujillo, Peru. His international experience and deep commitment to faith have earned him great respect within the Church.
Addressing the world for the first time as pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful with humility and hope, signaling a new chapter for the Catholic Church under his leadership.
