Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica yesterday.Credit…Gianni Cipriano for The New York Times
The first American pope
Robert Francis Prevost was yesterday elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first pontiff from the U.S. He took the papal name Leo XIV and greeted a cheering crowd of followers at St. Peter’s Square by saying, “Peace be with you.” Read a transcript of his speech.
The choice defied a longstanding belief that church leaders would never select a pope from a global superpower that already has considerable influence. “In a world that seems upside down, old taboos are also breaking in the Vatican, where the idea of an American pope was unimaginable for generations,” Jason Horowitz, our Rome bureau chief, said.
See the moment Leo XIV emerged as pope.
As ideological camps tussled before the conclave over whether to continue the inclusive agenda of the last pope, Francis, or return to a conservative doctrinal path, supporters had pitched then-Cardinal Prevost, 69, as a balanced alternative. In his first remarks to the crowd that had gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Leo put great emphasis on the need to build bridges.
His election was greeted with rejoicing in Vatican City but also in Chicago, where he was born, and in Peru, where he spent more than two decades. President Trump called his selection “a great honor” for the United States.
Who is Leo? Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff spent much of his life outside the U.S. He served as missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop in Peru, eventually becoming a Peruvian citizen. Until the death of Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. Here’s what else we know about him.
What’s next: Leo will celebrate Mass at the Sistine Chapel today with the cardinals who elected him. He will recite a prayer on Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica. And on Monday, he will meet with journalists at the Vatican.