Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Leo XIV. He is the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
As a missionary, Prevost, 69, spent his career ministering in Peru and led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops.
In his first words as Pope Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo, 69, said, “Peace be with you,” and emphasized a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization. He wore the traditional red cape of the papacy — a cape that Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013. He spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English.
Here’s a recap on how the day unfolded.
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Here’s what to know about the new pope
By the Associated Press
Francis brought Prevost, a Chicago native, to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost had a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had.
Seaport Shrine director welcomes new pope’s pledge to “build bridges” in an insular world — 5:54 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
One of the strongest impressions from Pope Leo XIV’s first address was his commitment to “building bridges” both within and outside the church, said the co-director of a Catholic Shrine in Boston’s Seaport.
“The world is so polarized, so for this to be among the first things he mentions — peace, God’s love, and building bridges — is incredibly hopeful,” said Susan Abbott, co-director of Our Lady of Good Voyage.
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Abbott echoed others who said that the new pope’s message appeared to consciously reflect the legacy of his predecessor. She said that, while Pope Francis had his critics, his core message was one of outreach to “the people God loves that might not be coming into our churches [or] our homes.”
“As the world gets more insular and more isolated, where we don’t know our neighbors, we need to be reminded that [we can’t] wait for your neighbor to come to you,” she said.
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‘I’m looking forward to seeing what his ideas are’ — 5:39 p.m.
By Nathan Metcalf, Globe Correspondent
At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, parishioners and visitors reacted to the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the church.
Tom Murphy, a South End resident, was walking up the cathedral steps to pray the Rosary when he learned the news.
“I didn’t know that,” he said. “Thank God. Thanks for the good news.”
Murphy said he wasn’t looking for political stances from the new pope — only guidance.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what his ideas are going to be and how we can improve our relationship with God the Father.”
“I kind of leave the heavy lifting up to the pope — as far as interpretation and things like that,” he added. “I trust him to read the word of God and pass the teachings along to us.”
South End resident Stacey Cannon, who was strolling by the cathedral moments after the announcement, said she was stunned by the choice.
“First American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Church. Amazing,” she said. “I’m just astonished that actually they’ve chosen an American pope. I wasn’t expecting this at all.”
Cannon, who is Jewish, said she appreciated the symbolism of the moment.
“I really, really, really respect Catholicism because Catholicism has come from Judaism,” she said. “We’re all in this together. It’s not just one — it’s for all of us.”
She said she hoped Pope Leo would continue the Church’s movement toward openness.
“I hope the Church continues on its path of being more progressive, more inclusive, and just more deliberate in making other people understand that we are all in this together, regardless of our religion.”
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While the new pope is seen as more conservative than his predecessor, Cannon said she remained optimistic.
“He may be conservative,” she said, “but he may also have a lot of the same qualities, and has been given a platform to perhaps grow those qualities in himself.”
Rejoicing Peruvians see Pope Leo XIV as one of their own after his many years in Peru — 5:34 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Peruvians were elated Thursday after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country and who they see as one of their own was elected pope.
Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as a bishop. That made him the first pope from each country.
“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who was near the cathedral when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”
Augustinians in Northeast celebrate first elevation of member of their order to papacy in centuries — 5:26 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
Members of the Catholic religious order previously headed by Pope Leo XIV are celebrating the ascension of one of their own to the papacy.
Cardinal Robert Prevost served as head of the Order of St. Augustine until 2013. Six Augustinians have previously served as pope, according to Jesuit magazine “America,” but none in modern history.
The Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, which includes members of the order in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the northeastern US, expressed support for Leo XIV in a message posted to social media Thursday.
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“What a moment of hope, surprise, and joy,” said Rev. Robert Hagan, the regional superior of the province. “As Augustinians, we are so proud of Pope Leo XIV. We’re so grateful for what we know him to be, to now be the servant for the whole church and for all the world.”
New pope’s missionary experience will be crucial, says North End priest — 5:23 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
Pope Leo XIV’s work with poor communities in Peru will deeply inform his engagement with the world as leader of the Catholic Church, said one priest from Boston’s North End.
Like the pope, Rev. Michael Della Penna also served as a priest in Latin America for several years. Now pastor of the historic St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church, Della Penna said that kind of social work “taught me so much.”
“As Pope Francis would say, we don’t go to evangelize them, they evangelize us,” he said. “That was definitely my experience of working overseas.”
Della Penna said the new pope’s unique perspective of working in both the American and Peruvian churches would “serve him well” as pontiff.
The new pope grew up in the Chicago area — 5:20 p.m.
By the New York Times
The new pope, who was born Robert Francis Prevost, hails from the Chicago area, where he grew up in a southern suburb just outside of the city.
His family belonged to the now-shuttered St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in the Riverdale neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, then populated by throngs of Catholic families. His father, Louis Prevost, was a school superintendent in Chicago Heights, a suburb in Cook County. His mother, Mildred Prevost, was a librarian and deeply involved in parish life, serving as the president of the St. Mary Altar Rosary Society, according to her death notice in 1990.
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Americans in St. Peter’s Square were stunned by choice of new pope — 5:14 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Americans in St. Peter’s Square were stunned and joyous when they learned that an American cardinal, Robert Provost, was elected pope Thursday and had taken the name Leo XIV.
“Who in our lifetime would have thought that we would see a North American Holy Father?” said Father Thomas Montanaro, an American priest with the Legionaries of Christ.
Montanaro was among the many tens of thousands of people who filled St. Peter’s Square for the historic moment.
At Dorchester Catholic school, joy, excitement as new pope is elected — 5:08 p.m.
By Emily Spatz, Globe Correspondent
At Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester on Thursday morning, the students were celebrating a “conclave week.” Amid the actual conclave in Vatican City to elect a new pope, which started in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday and wrapped Thursday with the election of Robert Prevost, first, third, and fourth graders at the Catholic school learned about the process of electing a new church leader.
“[The next pope] needs to be a leader, holy, and dedicated to God,” Gidel Sanchez, a fourth grader, said after casting his ballot.
Canadian prime minister offers prayers and best wishes for the pope — 4:46 p.m.
By the Associated Press
New Canadian Prime Minister Carney, a practicing Catholic, called the pope’s election a “historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance.”
“At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all.” Carney said in a post on social media.
Pope may ‘increase momentum’ of Catholicism in US, Boston official says — 4:28 p.m.
By Sarah Mesdjian, Globe Correspondent
The director of multicultural ministries for the Archdiocese of Boston said she believes the first US-born pope will “increase the momentum” of Catholicism in the US across cultures and communities.
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“We’re seeing a vibrant community, a vibrant church already among all these multicultural ethnic communities,” Wendy Rodriguez Mejia said Thursday at the pastoral center in Braintree. “I think this new pope will just maintain that momentum of joy, of vibrancy within our church, but will just continue to increase that.”
Mejia said the election of a pope who was born in the US was “a huge surprise.”
“Our last pope was from Latin America. I thought we’re probably heading into another continent, perhaps Africa, or Italy again, but the United States - that was a huge surprise,” she said.
Mejia said she believes the quick election of the Pope Leo XIV was a result of human understanding and “the divine aspect.”
“All these Cardinals came together to elect someone,” Mejia said. “But at the same time, beyond that human aspect … There’s also the divine aspect. … What seems to be a human act, electing a pope, was also a very spiritual and divine act, led by the Holy Spirit.”
Professor of canon law sees continuity with Francis — 4:21 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Kurt Martens, who teaches at The Catholic University of America in Washington, said Robert Prevost’s choice of the name of Leo XIV, referencing XIII and his foundational encyclical on social teaching — suggests continuity with the church’s direction under Pope Francis.
Martens said references in Leo XIV’s speech to embracing the whole world as well as synodality are more signs that the new pope will continue to focus on the poor and those on the margins of societies.
Leaders of African countries congratulate the pope — 4:20 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Mozambique President Daniel Chapo said it was “with joy and jubilation that the people and government of the Republic of Mozambique received the happy news of his election.” Mozambique, once a colony of Portugal, has nearly 9 million Catholics.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said in a Facebook post, “I wish a Pontificate filled with achievements and blessings, under the sign of interreligious dialogue, peace and human brotherhood,” The West African nation, while predominantly Muslim, has a significant Catholic minority.
Kenya’s Archbishop Anthony Muheria said Pope Leo XIV has visited Kenya “many times,” remembering him as “a very pleasant person and a good listener.” Catholics in Kenya make up the second largest denomination.
Vladimir Putin wishes Leo XIV success based on ‘Christian values’ — 4:19 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Russian president extended his “cordial congratulations” to the new pope in a message published on the Kremlin’s website, wishing him “success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being.”
“I am confident that the constructive dialogue and interaction established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us,” the Russian leader said.
WATCH: Pope Leo XIV congratulated by cardinals and Vatican clerks as he leaves Sistine Chapel — 4:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Just over 24 hours after walking into the Sistine Chapel, solemn and unsmiling to begin the conclave, cardinals beamed and clapped as one of their own, Robert Prevost, walked out of the frescoed chapel as Pope Leo XIV. The first American pope also smiled to the electors and other leaders of the church as he exited the Sistine Chapel, a video released by the Vatican showed. He then stopped to pray alone, kneeling in front of the altar of the Pauline Chapel.
UN Secretary General offers ‘heartfelt congratulations’ — 4:11 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Antonio Guterres said he looks forward “to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See – nurtured most recently by Pope Francis – to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all.”
“The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions of faithful around the world, and it comes at a time of great global challenges. Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and compassion,” Guterres said.
And he quoted the new pope’s first words: “Despite the rich diversity of backgrounds and beliefs, people everywhere share a common goal: ‘May peace be with all the world.’”
A burning question: is Pope Leo XIV a Chicago White Sox or Cubs fan? — 4:07 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The bells pealed at Holy Name Cathedral as a crowd quickly gathered. Schoolchildren mingled outside, whooping and shouting. Bishop Larry Sullivan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, told a press conference that it’s an exciting day for the city and the country.
“I would say the Chicago way is that we come together, we share our faith,” he said.
The cathedral’s rector, Father Gregory Sakowicz, said the sun came out in Chicago when the new pope was announced, a coincidence he described as “God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
He said he was “happily shocked,” and that he had a burning question: was new Pope a White Sox fan? A journalist said she’d heard he’s for the Cubs, and Sakowicz chuckled. “God bless him,” he said.
SNAP calls for Leo XIV to end church sex abuse, hold clergy accountable — 4:05 p.m.
By Nick Stoico, Globe Staff
A group representing victims of clergy sexual abuse is calling on the new pope to resolve the crisis and hold accountable priests who have a record of abuse.
A spokesperson for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, also expressed concern about the selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, who has faced criticism for his handling of clergy abuse in the archdioceses of Chicago and Chiclayo, a city in northwestern Peru.
Leo XIV, 69, the first pope to hail from the US, led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops before he was elected pope Thursday following a short papal conclave.
“We were very gravely concerned that he was in that position, and we’re still concerned now that he’s become pope, because what needs to happen to end abuse in the Catholic Church is for people like Prevost, now Pope Leo, to be held accountable and investigated for those failures to manage these abuse cases properly,” Sarah Pearson, a spokesperson for SNAP, said in a phone interview Thursday.
“We’re concerned because if this did not happen in his own diocese, he’s now the person who is in charge of doing this to keep safe the 1.3 billion Catholics around the world,” Pearson said.
A woman in Chiclayo who said she and two other women were sexually abused by two priests when they were children has accused Prevost of mishandling the investigation and allowing one of the accused priests to celebrate Mass, according to the New York Times.
The diocese of Chiclayo has said Prevost opened an investigation that the Vatican later closed, according to the Times. The investigation was reopened when a new bishop arrived.
The New York Times reported that Prevost has also faced accusations that he allowed a Chicago priest who church officials determined abused young boys for years to be sheltered in a monastery near a Catholic school starting in 2000, without informing the school.
Prevost was head of the Midwestern order of Augustinians and would have approved the priest’s move, said Pearson, the SNAP spokesperson.
“They needed his signature in order to move him there, and he agreed to that,” Pearson said. “He was moved next to the school, and the school was never notified.”
In a statement, SNAP called for Pope Leo to adopt a “universal zero tolerance law” that would permanently remove priests who have abused children or adults, a measure the group has been advocating for for years, among other demands.
“You can end the abuse crisis — the only question is, will you?” the statement said.
On Thursday, Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented numerous clergy abuse victims over the years, said in a statement that he hopes Pope Leo “will actually create effective programs to help clergy sexual abuse victims try to heal, screen and supervise priests and prevent clergy sexual abuse.”
“The Catholic Church has to understand that the safety of innocent children cannot be sacrificed for an outdated and inexcusable need to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church,” Garabedian said.
Catholics in Boston celebrate — though they didn’t get a vote — 3:58 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Boston is among the most Catholic of U.S. cities — about a quarter of the population identifies as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center, down from 29% in 2014 after the clergy abuse scandal broke in the city and spread worldwide.
Boston’s former archbishop, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, turned 80 in June, so was too old to vote, and his successor, Archbishop Richard Henning, is not a cardinal. The city lacked a direct representative inside the conclave, but is cheering nonetheless.
“We have a pope! I join with Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston and throughout the world, along with people of good will, in celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new Holy Father,” Henning said in a statement. “We pray for him as he begins this ministry as the Vicar of Christ and the Bishop of Rome. May he be for us a visible source and foundation of communion in faith.”
Bishop says new pope has already shown kind of leader he will be — 3:52 p.m.
By Sarah Mesdjian, Globe Correspondent
Bishop Mark O’Connell, vicar general for the Boston archdiocese, said Thursday he believes Pope Leo XIV may be more traditional than his predecessor, but in other ways will be “his own man.”
“He was wearing traditional garb, same as Pope Benedict wore, and which Pope Francis didn’t wear, but his words were very Pope Francis,” O’Connell said in an interview at the pastoral center in Braintree. “I think that’s perfect. He’s going to be his own man.”
“He’s going to be both a little more traditional, and yet he’s going to keep the tone and mission of Francis,” he said.
The first US pope didn’t use English in his first speech — 3:41 p.m.
By the Associated Press
His choice of languages reflects his “pastoral care,” said Prof. Bruce Morrill of Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
“First and foremost his office is bishop of Rome,” Morrill said after the American pope initially spoke Italian, then switched to the Spanish he used in decades spent ministering in Peru.
“The conventional wisdom was that there would not be an American pope because of geopolitical implications,” said Morrill, a Jesuit priest.
Morrill also noted that Leo XIII issued the first modern encyclical on modern social justice, about workers’ protections. So choosing the name Leo XIV suggests the new pontiff’s priorities: “This is a man also very concerned about the church serving the greater social needs of the world,” Morrill said.
Spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians welcomes the new Roman Catholic Church leader — 3:33 p.m.
By the Associated Press
“I greet the new Pope, the new Bishop of Rome, with great brotherly love in Christ and great expectations,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew told the Associated Press Thursday at an event in Athens. He said he’ll be in Rome for the pope’s enthronement.
Reflecting on his longstanding cooperation with Pope Francis, Bartholomew expressed hope for continued progress in Catholic-Orthodox relations. He and Francis collaborated on global challenges including climate change, migration and the impact of technological change. They also hoped to end a centuries-old dispute by finding a common date to celebrate Easter.
“I hope that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will be a dear brother and collaborator ... for unity of the whole Christian family and for the benefit of the whole of humankind,” he said.
Spanish prime minister congratulates ‘the entire Catholic church’ — 3:20 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Pedro Sánchez cheered the election of Pope Leo XIV, saying in a post on X: “May your pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity.”
Leo XIV ‘clearly aligned himself’ with Pope Francis in speech, says BC cleric — 3:14 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
Though Cardinal Robert Prevost was described by some as a moderate candidate for the papacy, his speech before St. Peter’s Square was firmly rooted in the socially conscious tradition embodied by his predecessor, the Rev. James Weiss, a Boston College theology professor, said Thursday.
Leo XIV’s reference to a “synodal church” indicates that his pontificate will value receptiveness and engagement with the world, he said.“[Synodality] is the new catch word for the notion that the church needs to listen more than it talks,” Weiss said. “It needs to bring in people from the margins, laypeople, men and women, priests and nuns. Not just bishops and cardinals.”
Pope Leo XIV’s first appointments have been set — 3:05 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni says:
- Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on Friday morning at 11 a.m. with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
- He plans to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica
- And he plans to hold an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium
Archbishop Henning says quick election a sign of ‘consensus’ — 2:58 p.m.
By Sarah Mesdjian, Globe Correspondent
Boston Archbishop Richard Henning commented on the brevity of the conclave to elect the new pontiff. Pope Leo XIV was elected on the second day of voting.
“Perhaps it’s a sign that the Cardinals had some sort of consensus even from the start,” Henning said of the short election process.
New Pope will be ‘a bridge builder,’ Boston parishioner says — 2:54 p.m.
By Nathan Metcalf, Globe Correspondent
At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, visitors and parishioners reacted to the announcement Thursday afternoon.
John Hickey, a Burlington resident and retired high school teacher, happened to be inside the cathedral for a meeting when the news came.
He said Pope Leo’s work in Latin America, especially in Peru, made him optimistic about the Church’s future.
“I think he will indeed be a bridge builder,” Hickey said. “A voice for the marginalized and the dispossessed, and build bridges for both moderates and progressives in the Church.”
Hickey said he was struck by the moment’s significance.
“To actually be in the cathedral when the new pope was announced was historical in and of itself, and very powerful,” he said. “I can’t think of a better place to be, to be perfectly honest.”
New pope criticized JD Vance, Trump administration on social media — 2:49 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
Pope Leo XIV has been critical of the Trump administration’s stance on immigration, according to his social media posts.
On his X account, Cardinal Robert Prevost reposted a February article detailing a letter from Pope Francis criticizing President Trump’s mass deportation policies. The future pope also reposted a quote from an auxiliary bishop of Washington D.C., who said, regarding the deportation of Maryland resident to El Salvador, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
On Feb. 3, Prevost wrote “JD Vance is wrong,” referring to comments the vice president made on Fox News. Vance said that Christians should prioritize their families and neighbors before loving the rest of the world, a notion Vance claimed has been “completely inverted” by the “far left.”
“Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” Prevost wrote in the post.
Pope Francis clearly had his eye on Prevost — 2:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
In many ways, Francis saw Prevost as his heir apparent. But there had long been a taboo against electing a pontiff from a country whose geopolitical power loomed so large in the secular sphere. Prevost, a Chicago native, was seemingly eligible because he’s also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
His selection is also enormously significant because of its potential impact on the future of the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been badly divided between conservatives and progressives. With Prevost’s help at the help of the bishop vetting office, Francis embarked on a 12-year project to rein in the traditionalists in the United States, which is terrifically important to the global church financially.
What significance might the name Leo have for a pope? — 2:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru before taking over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, chose Leo XIV for his papal name.
Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903, softened Catholicism’s confrontational stance toward modernity — especially science and politics — and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought, most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism.
The name “is a deep sign of commitment to social issues. I think it is going to be exciting to see a different kind of American Catholicism in Rome,’’ said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, the chair of religious studies at Manhattan University in the Bronx.
Trump says ‘it’s such an honor for our country’ — 2:33 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump spoke to reporters outside the West Wing, saying that for the new pope to be American, “What greater honor can there be?”
“We’re a little bit surprised and we’re happy,” Trump added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, sends his greetings — 2:27 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Marco Rubio, a Catholic, issued a statement expressing his “heartfelt congratulations” to the new pope during “a moment of profound significance” for the church.
“The papacy carries a sacred and solemn responsibility,” Rubio’s message said. “May the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, strength, and grace as he shepherds the Church. The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.”
A new pope sends greetings to his faithful in Peru — 2:25 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as pope, Leo XIV addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo, which sits sits just 9 miles away from Peru’s northern Pacific coast and is among the country’s most populous cities.
“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.
Boston Archbishop calls election of Pope Leo XIV a ‘joyful day’ — 2:24 p.m.
By Sarah Mesdjian, Globe Correspondent
In remarks Thursday afternoon, Richard Henning, the Archbishop of Boston, expressed his joy and surprise about the election of the new pope, the first from the US.
“This [is a] very joyful day for the Catholic Church around the world, and a really surprising day to have our first American ward,” Henning said in an address at the pastoral center in Braintree. ”Pope Leo XIV, he just addressed the world with really a beautiful appeal to all of us to seek that peace that comes from Christ and to live that peace with one another in compassion. So I give thanks, along with Catholics around the world.”
Boston College monsignor says Leo XIV will be a ‘world pope’ — 2:15 p.m.
By Camilo Fonseca, Globe Staff
The first pope to hail from the United States, known for his extensive missionary work across the globe, should be considered a “world pope,” according to one Boston College cleric.
Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago, but much of his ministry was spent outside the US, Monsignor Liam Bergin noted in an interview Thursday. Just as Pope Francis was the first pontiff from the Americas, Leo XIV will be a pontiff who can be claimed by worshippers around the globe, Bergin said.
Prevost spent two decades in Peru, where he became a naturalized citizen, supporting immigrants and visiting far-flung communities, according to The New York Times. As leader of the Order of St. Augustine, he made visits around the world; most recently he was appointed to run the Vatican office that selects bishops globally.
Bergin noted Prevost’s choice of papal name harkens back to Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, and is known as the father of modern Catholic social teaching. He noted that Prevost’s ministry in Peru and elsewhere shows that he is “in the likeness of Pope Francis,” who preached compassion for the poor and marginalized.
He described Prevost’s selection in four ballots as an “extraordinary surprise,” adding that the relatively short Conclave suggested that he was viewed as a candidate amenable to many factions of the church.
What is a core value for Augustinian priests? — 2:11 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A religious order is a community of Catholics — which can include priests, nuns, monks and even lay people — dedicated to a particular type of mission and spirituality. A core value for the Order of St. Augustine that the new pope belongs to is to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.”
Pope Francis was the first pope from the Jesuit religious order ever, and the first in more than a century and a half to come from any religious order. The previous one was Gregory XVI (1831-1846), a Camaldolese monk. In all, 34 of the 266 popes have belonged to religious orders — and six of them before Leo XIV were Augustinians, according to America, a Jesuit magazine.
The idea of a US pontiff was taboo. Prevost overcame it. — 2:07 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Pope Francis brought Prevost, a Chicago native, to the Vatican in 2023 to lead the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.
He kept a low public profile in Rome, but was well known to the men who count. Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope. In early 2025, Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals.
Back in Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, Peru, the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil said Prevost would have breakfast with his fellow priests after saying his prayers each day. “No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” Purisaca said in an email.
The pope’s first words — 2:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
“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.”
Cathedral bells ring out in Lima, Peru — 2:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Prevost’s election as pope is swelling the pride of Peruvians.
“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who happened to be near the cathedral in Peru’s capital when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”
Watch the moment Leo XIV emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica — 1:53 p.m.
By the Associated Press
See photos from St. Peter’s Square — 1:49 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump congratulates new pope — 1:44 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The US president posted his reaction on his Truth Social social media platform.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
New pope led order dedicated to the poor and service — 1:39 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The new pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
The order’s requirements and ethos are traced to the fifth century St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity.
The order works in about 50 countries, according to its website, promoting a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others.
Pope Leo XIV’s first message: Peace and dialogue ‘without fear’ — 1:36 p.m.
By the Associated Press
From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, history’s first American pope recalled that he was an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”
He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
In his first words, Pope Leo XIV says ‘Peace be with you’ — 1:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The voting cardinals look over the crowd — 1:24 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The voting cardinals now fill the four balconies that flank the flag-draped balcony where Pope Leo XIV will speak. Many — including several who had been identified as possible contenders — seem joyful as they look over the crowd below.
Robert Prevost is now Leo XIV — 1:18 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV.
Robert Prevost is elected the first American pope in history — 1:15 p.m.
By the Associated Press
When will the new pope be announced? — 1:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
There’s no set time for when he will come out but Pope Francis appeared an hour and 20 minutes after white smoke was released.
A new pope’s last moments before emerging to a global role — 1:10 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The new pope, whoever he is, should now be donning his papal vestments in the so-called “Room of Tears.” It is thus named due to the emotional weight of the moment and the responsibility ahead.
People in the crowd continue to scream “Viva il papa!” as they remain suspended in time in huge anticipation.
Crowds in Vatican City await the new pope — 1:06 p.m.
By the Associated Press
One cardinal’s hometown ‘mystery’ — 12:58 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Three friends in Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s hometown of Schiavon clinked their glasses in an Italian salute when the white smoke went up in St. Peter’s Square. “We hope it’s him,” said Mariano Vialetto, over an aperitivo in Caffè Centrale. “We have our fingers crossed.”
Morgan Zaetta was more sure: “It’s him, it’s him.”
Then the bells rang in the church, St. Margherita — only the sacristan says it wasn’t he who rang them and doesn’t know who did.
“It wasn’t me,” said Angelo Cisotto, adding no one was in the bell tower and they could not be rung by remote.
“It’s a mystery,” he said. Asked if it could be a sign: “We hope, we hope.’’
Trump saw the smoke — 12:49 p.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump was asked about the white smoke signaling that a new pope had been chosen. He offered little immediate reaction.
“I saw the smoke but I haven’t seen the pope,” Trump told reporters on his way out of a White House event with military mothers.
A last quiet moment before the excitement — 12:47 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A few minutes before the white smoke, a small seagull chick appeared near the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. Alongside the chick were two larger seagulls, almost as if they were a family. Just as the mother was feeding the chick, the chimney began to smoke.
Swiss Guards have taken position in front of front of St. Peter’s Basilica — 12:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A marching brass band in blue uniforms led a continent of Swiss guards through the crowd to a central spot below the balcony, generating another huge roar from the crowd.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is the official security force of the Vatican, and holds a ceremonial and a protective function.
And now more marching bands are celebrating the election of a new pope in a parade that includes large groups in military dress uniforms.
“Vivi il Papa!” erupts from the crowd whenever the music pauses.
Which cardinals are contenders? — 12:42 p.m.
By the Associated Press
There are never official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals were considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope. Some names include Pietro Parolin, who oversaw the conclave, Luis Tagle, dubbed the “Asian Francis,” Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, a conservative cardinal native to the Congo, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, potentially the first Italian pope in decades.
See photos from St. Peter’s Square — 12:33 p.m.
By the Associated Press
All eyes are now on the red-draped central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica — 12:28 p.m.
By the Associated Press
That’s where a cardinal will soon emerge to “to proclaim a new pope to Rome and to the world.”
There is incredible excitement — the crowd is roaring, and some are shouting “hallelujah!”
The great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica are tolling — 12:22 p.m.
By the Associated Press
And down below, amid the cheers in the vast mix of humanity in St. Peter’s square, priests are making the sign of the cross and nuns are weeping at the white smoke wafting into the sky.
The crowd erupted with joy in St. Peter’s Square — 12:16 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Some are obviously deeply moved, others excited. They’re clapping and waving national flags and taking photos with their phones.
“Viva il papa!” some shouted.
White smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney — 12:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
It signals that a pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
That means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers.
The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words “Habemus papam!” Latin for “We have a pope!” from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinal then reads the winner’s birth name in Latin, and reveals the name he has chosen to be called.
The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.