The Conclave has chosen the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV — formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, and now the first American pope in history.
Raucous cheers erupted a little past noon in the Vatican (roughly past midnight in Philippine time) as white smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the selection of a new pope. On the second day of the Conclave—after four rounds of voting (the same number taken during Benedict XVI’s Conclave)—a group of 133 red-clad cardinals came to a decision on who would be leading the Church’s 1.4 billion Catholics. A marching band parade ensued, thousands of people waiting outside St. Peter’s Basilica to see the new Holy Father step onto its iconic balcony, announced with the words “Habemus Papam” [“We have a new pope”]. Emerging, a little over an hour after the smoke appeared, was former Cardinal Robert Prevost, who assumed the name Pope Leo XIV.
Once again, the result of the Conclave has managed to surprise both seasoned witnesses and newcomers around the world. Independent’s Tom Watling and Mike Bedigan call him a “dark horse,” just one of the things he shares with his predecessor Pope Francis: the element of surprise. Initially, experts thought him too young and too recently-appointed as a cardinal to be a viable papabile or pope candidate, but as these things go, speculation can quickly be disproven.
While many people were placing their bets on cardinals Pietro Parolin, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Pietro Parolin, Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, and yes, the country’s own Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prevost seemed to come out of nowhere when his name was announced—now, he bears an immense legacy and the responsibility of the Church’s future.
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Who Is Pope Leo XIV?
Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955 (currently 69 years old) in Chicago, Illinois. His father Louis Marius Prevost was a World War II Navy veteran and catechist of French and Italian descent, while his mother Mildred Martínez is of Spanish descent. In an article, The Pillar describes his childhood as having been surrounded by priests passing through his family home, as well as the delicious cooking of his mom.
He joined the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981, according to his profile for the Cardinalium Collegii Recensio (The College of Cardinals Report). The new pontiff graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977; a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; and both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the resource adds.
He was a former prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, a group largely responsible for selecting new bishops. As such, he shared a close relationship with the late pontiff, who appointed him as a cardinal in September 2023.
The Cardinalium Collegii Recensio describes his Church career as being one “marked by significant roles and achievements.” While he made history as the first American pope, he actually spent a substantial portion of his life outside the United States. After moving to Peru almost as soon as he was ordained in 1985, he visited America in 1987 to 1988 to serve as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. Afterwards, he returned to Peru and stayed for around a decade, taking up various roles for the Church including parish pastor, seminary teacher, judicial vicar, diocesan official, and director of formation.
He returned to Chicago in 1999, becoming the head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms (until 2013). Afterwards, he returned to Peru in 2014 when Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo (he became Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015).
A report from AS USA states that the pope is a polyglot, able to speak Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese on top of English. He’s also able to read both Latin and German. His diverse language skills were evident when he delivered his first public address, starting it in Italian before switching to Spanish.
On the more casual side of things, and interview with the Augustinian Order reveals that the pope is an avid tennis player, as well as someone who enjoys “reading, long walks, and longer chats with friends.”
What Has The New Pope Brought To The Table?
Pope Leo XIV’s Cardinalium Collegii Recensio profile states that he has generally kept a low, discreet profile, which explains why international media doesn’t know much about him. However, it notes that he’s a skilled listener with a “mastery of issues,” and one who asks “judicious questions.”
For the most part, the new pontiff is considered to be a “balanced” leader or centrist. He holds certain conservative views, including the belief that women shouldn’t be ordained deacons. As for the blessing of same-sex couples—something that his predecessor helped pave the way for and destigmatize—he holds the act at a wary distance, neither fully endorsing nor rejecting the idea, as far as public statements are concerned.
There’s also the prevalent concern of sexual abuse allegations among the clergy, specifically the frequent cover-ups and lack of due processes. In April 2022, the former cardinal was placed under fire for reportedly failing to properly investigate the molestation of three girls by two priests in his former Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. Yet official documents showed that he did indeed follow due processes and spoke with the girls, even urging them to take the case to civil authorities. It’s too early to say what Pope Leo XIV will be doing to properly address these rampant sexual abuse cases, but they’re certainly longstanding issues that can’t be ignored for much longer if the Church is to continue progressing.
While he may seem more traditional compared to the late Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV shares many of his advocacies and beliefs. Like the man before him, the new pontiff is a proponent of the “Synodal Church” —that is, a more inclusive and involved Church, something evident in his championing of migrants and the poor (an echo of the things the previous Holy Father stood for). He has also been vocal about the pressing issue of climate change, stressing the need to move from “words to action” and keep rapid technological advancement in check.
His choice of the papal title “Leo XIV” is hopefully evidence of an ambition to continue where Pope Francis left off, as his namesake Leo XIII—the last pope who held the name and served from 1878 until his death in 1903—was known for his social teachings.
First Public Appearance As Pope
Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica smiling and waving at the thousands who traveled to the Vatican to see the new pontiff. He looked happy, though the whirlwind of emotions that come with assuming such an influential role appear to have affected him, as close-up shots reveal a sniffling and teary-eyed pope.
In his first speech to the public, the pontiff shared [translated by CNN]: “We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves, let us go forward. We are the disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us. The world needs his light, humanity needs him, like a bridge to God and his love. Help us, and all others, to build bridges with dialogue, with meeting, to be one common people living always in peace. Thank you to Pope Francis.”
Proof of his close connection with the country, Pope Leo XIV gave a special shoutout to the people of Peru who joined in the Vatican celebrations, praising their strong and steadfast faith. He also paid tribute to Pope Francis, before thanking the cardinals for choosing him as a successor to St. Peter.
What The Conclave Tells Us
There were many reasons to suspect that the 2025 Conclave would take longer than usual. A diverse assembly of Cardinals from all over the world—many of whom had never participated in the assembly before—being one of them. The steep divisions within the Church itself being another: Pope Francis, while loved by many, faced harsh criticism as well, a considerable amount stemming from within his own territory.
Yet the voting only lasted two days and four rounds, and while it’s not the fastest Conclave in history (that would go to the election of Pope Julius II in 1503, which only took 10 hours), it certainly wasn’t the lengthy one many were expecting. Does this mean the vote came easy? We’ll never really know, given the secrecy surrounding the process.
But the choice of Pope XIV, or Robert Prevost, is perhaps indicative of the common sentiment: that in a highly discordant world (the Church not exempt from these contentions) someone as close to the middle as possible might be the safest bet. As to whether he’ll improve on his predecessor’s legacy, match it, or deviate from it altogether, only time will tell.
Banner photo via X @VaticanNews.
