White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling the election of a new pope. Moments later, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce the name: Pope Leo XIV</a&gt>, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. With that, the Catholic Church had its first American pontiff.

Prevost appeared before thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, wearing the traditional red mozzetta—a symbolic papal cape that Pope Francis notably declined to wear after his own election in 2013. In his first words as pope, Prevost greeted the crowd with “Peace be with you,” delivered in Italian, followed by a short message focused on unity and dialogue “without fear.” He then transitioned to Spanish, referencing his time as a missionary and later archbishop in Chiclayo, Peru. Notably, he made no remarks in English.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday, May 8, 2025, greeting the crowd as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.

At 69 years old, Prevost takes the helm of the global church following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88, after a period of declining health. Prevost’s election reflects a degree of continuity, as he shares many of Francis’ theological and pastoral priorities. In 2023, Francis appointed Prevost as the prefect of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, a role that gave him significant influence over global episcopal appointments. This elevated profile made him a leading contender going into the conclave.

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost is both an American and Peruvian citizen. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, before entering religious life. He later studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, taking his solemn vows in 1982. His decades of service in Peru, particularly in one of its most impoverished regions, earned him recognition for grassroots pastoral work and cultural fluency in Latin America.

His choice of papal name—Leo XIV—harkens back to earlier centuries but is a first in the modern era, signaling perhaps a blend of tradition and reform. While Prevost’s remarks avoided political topics, his early tone emphasized peace, inclusion, and the missionary spirit that has defined much of his ecclesiastical career.

As the Vatican enters a new chapter under Pope Leo XIV, the global Catholic community awaits how this historic American papacy will navigate both longstanding traditions and contemporary challenges.