REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Remo Casilli
Pope Leo XIV leads a Regina Caeli prayer from the central balcony (Loggia delle Benedizioni) of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 11, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
Approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide now have a new leader: Robert Francis Prevost—known by his papal name, Pope Leo XIV. He was elected May 8, 2025, at the Sistine Chapel, becoming the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV was chosen by secret ballot after just four rounds of voting by the College of Cardinals. His election came after the death of Pope Francis, and he has stated that he intends to follow a similar path in his leadership.
New popes are elected during a conclave at the Sistine Chapel. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate, as reported by ABC News. A two-thirds majority is required for a pope to be elected, and if that threshold is not reached, voting continues until it is.
In this case, Pope Leo XIV received the required votes during the fourth round. Soon after his election, he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the world.
“Peace be with all of you,” he said in his opening words, according to reporters Juliana Kim and Ayana Archie in their article, “Who Is the New Pope Leo XIV and What Is His Background?” During his first address, the new pontiff expressed deep gratitude to the cardinals for selecting him. He also thanked his former diocese in Peru and spoke warmly about his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is currently 69 years old. He served as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, was appointed archbishop in 2023 and became a cardinal the following year.
With principles similar to those of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV brings a spirit of continuity—and Catholics around the world now wait to see how he will lead the Church into its next chapter.