Historic First: American Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV

In a landmark decision, the College of Cardinals has elected American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost will now serve as Pope under the name Leo XIV, becoming the first-ever pontiff born in the United States. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to Vatican News.

The announcement came on the second day of the conclave, held following the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. Prevost’s election was proclaimed from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the traditional “Habemus Papam”, greeted by tens of thousands gathered in the square.

Prevost, originally from Chicago, was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in 2023. His decades-long pastoral work includes notable missionary service in Peru, where he served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo. 

By selecting Leo XIV, the cardinals signal a continuation of the inclusive and reform-oriented legacy of Pope Francis. Church observers suggest that Prevost is likely to pursue a balanced agenda rooted in dialogue, social justice, and global engagement.

Other contenders in the closely watched conclave included Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő, and Italian Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

As questions arise about the new pope’s potential approach to global affairs, particularly in relation to Ukraine, many are watching closely to see how Leo XIV will shape the moral and diplomatic voice of the Church on the world stage.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his American counterpart Donald Trump in Rome on the sidelines of official events at the funeral of Pope Francis.