World meets Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first U.S. pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV.

In his first public words as pontiff, history’s first American pope, said: “Peace be with you.”

From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, he recalled that he was an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”

MORE FROM NEWS 12:

The new pope: Full coverage of Leo XIV

1. Georgians, South Carolinians rejoice over selection of new pope
2. How Pope Leo XIV overcame a taboo against a U.S. pontiff
3. What’s in a name? Pope’s choice signals a commitment to social justice
4. As pope selections go, this one happened very quickly
5. Who is Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. pontiff?

He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.

Before he spoke, the voting cardinals filled four balconies. Many — including several who had been identified as possible contenders — seemed joyful as they looked over the crowd below.

Prevost’s selection as the 267th pope was signaled by white smoke pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolling.

The Chicago-born pope told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square that the church needs to build bridges, be open to everyone and show charity to those in need.

The words sounded very much like the words of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

HEAR THE FULL SPEECH:

They included that evil will not prevail, that God loves everyone and that Catholics should work together toward the path God has prepared.

Prevost had been a leading candidate for the papacy, but there had long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the country’s geopolitical power already wielded in the secular sphere.

He has been prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world.

PHOTO GALLERY: WORLD HAS FIRST U.S.-BORN POPE

Although U.S.-born, he has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop.

He had prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.

Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinians, the 13th century religious order founded by St. Augustine. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In that job he would have kept in regular with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts the most Catholics.

Ever since arriving in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he was well known to the men who count.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.

The bells of the cathedral in Peru’s capital of Lima tolled after Prevost’s election was announced. People outside the church expressed their desire for a papal visit at one point.

“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who happened to be near the cathedral when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”

The Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, re the cardinal rising each day and having breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers.

“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.

The introduction of Leo XIV came about an hour after the crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky.

The smoke signal meant the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

That was a change from Wednesday night, when black smoke from the first ballot poured out of the chapel chimney just after 9 p.m., about 4.5 hours after the cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel to take their oaths at the start of the conclave.

The cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual Wednesday afternoon, participating in a rite more theatrical than even Hollywood could create. Bright red cassocks, Swiss Guards standing at attention, ancient Latin chants and oaths preceded the slamming shut of the Sistine Chapel doors to seal the cardinals off from the outside world.

In this case, it took only two days for Catholic cardinals to elect a successor to Pope Francis. That’s among the shortest conclaves in recent decades.

Notes and reactions

Americans in St. Peter’s Square were stunned

1. Americans in St. Peter’s Square were stunned and joyous when they learned that an American cardinal, Robert Provost, was elected pope Thursday and had taken the name Leo XIV.
2. “Who in our lifetime would have thought that we would see a North American Holy Father?” said Father Thomas Montanaro, an American priest with the Legionaries of Christ.
3. Montanaro was among the many tens of thousands of people who filled St. Peter’s Square for the historic moment.
4. Cheers of “viva il papa” and applause rippled across the crowd to celebrate the new pope.
5. Father Darius Lawrence, a priest from California, said the announcement caught him completely off guard.
6. “As an American, it’s a huge surprise,” he said. “I would have never expected an American to be named as pope. He wasn’t on any of the lists I’d seen — and I’d been looking into it a little bit.”

Canadian prime minister offers prayers and best wishes for the pope

1. New Canadian Prime Minister Carney, a practicing Catholic, called the pope’s election a “historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance.”
2. “At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, comion, and dignity for all.” Carney said in a post on social media.

Professor of canon law sees continuity with Francis

1. Kurt Martens, who teaches at The Catholic University of America in Washington, said Robert Prevost’s choice of the name of Leo XIV, referencing XIII and his foundational encyclical on social teaching — suggests continuity with the church’s direction under Pope Francis.
2. Martens said references in Leo XIV’s speech to embracing the whole world as well as synodality are more signs that the new pope will continue to focus on the poor and those on the margins of societies.

Leaders of African countries offer congratulations

1. Mozambique President Daniel Chapo said it was “with joy and jubilation that the people and government of the Republic of Mozambique received the happy news of his election.” Mozambique, once a colony of Portugal, has nearly 9 million Catholics.
2. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said in a Facebook post, “I wish a Pontificate filled with achievements and blessings, under the sign of interreligious dialogue, peace and human brotherhood,” The West African nation, while predominantly Muslim, has a significant Catholic minority.
3. Kenya’s Archbishop Anthony Muheria said Pope Leo XIV has visited Kenya “many times,” ing him as “a very pleasant person and a good listener.” Catholics in Kenya make up the second largest denomination.

Vladimir Putin wishes Leo XIV success based on ‘Christian values’

1. The Russian president extended his “cordial congratulations” to the new pope in a message published on the Kremlin’s website, wishing him “success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being.”
2. “I am confident that the constructive dialogue and interaction established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us,” the Russian leader said.

UN secretary general offers ‘heartfelt congratulations’

1. Antonio Guterres said he looks forward “to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See – nurtured most recently by Pope Francis – to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all.”
2. “The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions of faithful around the world, and it comes at a time of great global challenges. Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and comion,” Guterres said.
3. And he quoted the new pope’s first words: “Despite the rich diversity of backgrounds and beliefs, people everywhere share a common goal: ‘May peace be with all the world.’”

A burning question: is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan?

1. The bells pealed at Holy Name Cathedral as a crowd quickly gathered. Schoolchildren mingled outside, whooping and shouting. Bishop Larry Sullivan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, told a press conference that it’s an exciting day for the city and the country.
2. “I would say the Chicago way is that we come together, we share our faith,” he said.
3. The cathedral’s rector, Father Gregory Sakowicz, said the sun came out in Chicago when the new pope was announced, a coincidence he described as “God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
4. He said he was “happily shocked,” and that he had a burning question: was new Pope a White Sox fan? A journalist said she’d heard he’s for the Cubs, and Sakowicz chuckled. “God bless him,” he said.

Spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians welcomes pope

1. “I greet the new Pope, the new Bishop of Rome, with great brotherly love in Christ and great expectations,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew told the Associated Press Thursday at an event in Athens. He said he’ll be in Rome for the pope’s enthronement.
2. Reflecting on his long-standing cooperation with Pope Francis, Bartholomew expressed hope for continued progress in Catholic-Orthodox relations. He and Francis collaborated on global challenges including climate change, migration and the impact of technological change. They also hoped to end a centuries-old dispute by finding a common date to celebrate Easter.
3. “I hope that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will be a dear brother and collaborator ... for unity of the whole Christian family and for the benefit of the whole of humankind,” he said.

Spanish prime minister congratulates ‘the entire Catholic church’

1. Pedro Sánchez cheered the election of Pope Leo XIV, saying in a post on X: “May your pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity.”

Pope Leo XIV’s first appointments have been set

1. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says:
2. 1. Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on Friday morning at 11 a.m. with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
3. 2. He plans to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica
4. 3. And he plans to hold an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium

The Bushes are delighted over an American pope

1. Former U.S. President George W. Bush said he and his wife, Laura, are “delighted” to congratulate former Cardinal Robert Prevost on his election to become pope.
2. “This an historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America and for the faithful around the world,” Bush said in a statement. “We those praying for the success of Pope Leo XIV as he prepares to lead the Catholic church, serve the neediest, and share God’s love.”

Pope Francis clearly had his eye on Prevost

1. In many ways, Francis saw Prevost as his heir apparent. But there had long been a taboo against electing a pontiff from a country whose geopolitical power loomed so large in the secular sphere. Prevost, a Chicago native, was seemingly eligible because he’s also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
2. His selection is also enormously significant because of its potential impact on the future of the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been badly divided between conservatives and progressives. With Prevost’s help at the help of the bishop vetting office, Francis embarked on a 12-year project to rein in the traditionalists in the United States, which is terrifically important to the global church financially.

Trump says ‘it’s such an honor for our country’

1. Trump spoke to reporters outside the West Wing, saying that for the new pope to be American, “What greater honor can there be?”
2. “We’re a little bit surprised and we’re happy,” Trump added.

U.S. secretary of state sends his greetings

1. Marco Rubio, a Catholic, issued a statement expressing his “heartfelt congratulations” to the new pope during “a moment of profound significance” for the church.
2. “The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility,” Rubio’s message said. “May the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.”

A new pope sends greetings to his faithful in Peru

1. Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as pope, Leo XIV addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo, which sits just 9 miles (14 km) away from Peru’s northern Pacific coast and is among the country’s most populous cities.
2. “Greetings... to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith,” he said.

What is a core value for Augustinian priests?

1. A religious order is a community of Catholics — which can include priests, nuns, monks and even lay people — dedicated to a particular type of mission and spirituality. A core value for the Order of St. Augustine that the new pope belongs to is to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.”
2. Pope Francis was the first pope from the Jesuit religious order ever, and the first in more than a century and a half to come from any religious order. The previous one was Gregory XVI (1831-1846), a Camaldolese monk. In all, 34 of the 266 popes have belonged to religious orders — and six of them before Leo XIV were Augustinians, according to America, a Jesuit magazine.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.