Melissa Donovan
In a historic first for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope, taking the name Leo XIV. At 69, the Chicago-born missionary becomes the first American to lead the 2,000-year-old institution.
White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 p.m. local time on Thursday, signaling the successful conclusion of the papal conclave. After multiple rounds of secret balloting among 135 eligible cardinals, the Church’s newest spiritual leader emerged before the world from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Peace be with you all. Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts to reach your families to all people everywhere to all the earth: peace be with you.”
From Missionary to Pontiff
Pope Leo XIV brings decades of international experience to the role. Before arriving at the Vatican in 2023, he spent the majority of his career in Peru, serving as a missionary and later as the archbishop of Chiclayo, a major city near the country’s northern coast. Fluent in Spanish and deeply familiar with Latin American Catholicism, he began his first papal address by greeting the people of Chiclayo in their native language.
“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.
Leo XIV nonetheless held significant influence within Church governance. Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, the body responsible for vetting candidates for episcopal leadership around the globe — a critical and powerful position in shaping the Church’s hierarchy. In this role, he oversaw key reforms, including the inclusion of women in the consultative process for episcopal appointments.
Earlier in 2025, Francis elevated Prevost to the highest rank among cardinals, further cementing his status as a trusted advisor and key figure in the Church’s evolving leadership.
A Legacy Rooted in the Augustinian Order
Leo XIV is also a member and former leader of the Order of St. Augustine, one of the Catholic Church’s oldest religious orders. Founded in the 13th century, the order draws inspiration from St. Augustine of Hippo, a foundational theologian of early Christianity. The Augustinian ethos emphasizes communal life, spiritual harmony, and service — values the new pope referenced during his inaugural remarks.
While most modern popes have come from diocesan clergy rather than religious orders, Leo XIV joins a smaller group of 34 pontiffs with such backgrounds. Notably, he is the seventh pope from the Augustinian tradition, following in the footsteps of predecessors like Pope Francis, who was the first Jesuit to ascend to the papacy.
The Conclave and Election Process
The conclave that elected Leo XIV adhered to the Church’s long-standing protocol: cardinals under the age of 80 were sequestered from the outside world inside the Vatican, with no communication permitted until a new pope was chosen. Ballots were cast in secrecy, and the outcome remains confidential.
As tradition dictates, the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney served as the signal to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square — and to millions watching worldwide — that a new pontiff had been elected.
A Pope for a Global Church
Pope Leo XIV’s election underscores the growing international character of the Catholic Church, which today includes more than 1.3 billion members across every continent. His personal journey — from the streets of Chicago to the missions of Peru, and now to the papacy — reflects the global nature of Catholic leadership in the 21st century.
In his first words as pope, Leo XIV identified himself as “an Augustinian, but first a Christian, and a bishop — so we can all walk together.” The message, delivered in both Italian and Spanish, emphasized unity, humility, and shared purpose.
As the faithful look ahead to his papacy, Leo XIV’s blend of pastoral experience, administrative acumen, and deep spiritual grounding in religious life is expected to shape the Church’s path in an era marked by both challenge and renewal.
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