Robert Francis Prevost
May 09, 2025 08:32AM ● By Alyssa Cantu
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election marks several historic firsts: he is the first pope born in the United States, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the first to hold dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Peru. He is also the first pope named Leo since Leo XIII, who reigned from 1878 to 1903.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV spent over two decades in Peru as a missionary, seminary professor, and bishop. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, roles that elevated his prominence within the Vatican.
His election came after four rounds of voting during the 2025 papal conclave, which convened following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. The white smoke signaling his selection appeared at 6:08 p.m. local time, and he was formally introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at 7:14 p.m.