Habemus Papam: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pontiff
“Habemus Papam!” rang out from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before a square packed with faithful and expectant pilgrims. With those words, the Catholic Church announced to the world the election of the new successor of Saint Peter: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
Born in Chicago, United States, in 1955, the new pontiff makes history as the first American Pope since the Church’s founding. His election marks a significant shift in the geographic makeup of Catholic leadership and opens a new chapter for an institution with over 1.3 billion faithful.
A Pastor with Augustinian Roots and a Global Mission
Before his election, Leo XIV served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the Vatican and had a strong background as a missionary, bishop in Peru, and Superior General of the Augustinians. His profile combines theological rigor with a remarkable pastoral sensitivity, shaped both in Latin America and in his native United States.
Educated in Rome and deeply committed to the formation of clergy, the new Pope has been recognized for his spirit of dialogue, his ability to build bridges between cultures, and his pastoral approach rooted in mercy.
A Name Full of Meaning
The name Leo XIV evokes Popes of the past known for doctrinal firmness and leadership in times of change. Leo XIII, for instance, was a visionary pontiff who addressed social issues through his encyclical Rerum Novarum. This name suggests a desire to continue that legacy of commitment to contemporary challenges—from social justice to the Church’s role in an increasingly polarized world.
A Pivotal Moment for the Church
The election of an American Pope comes at a complex global juncture, with growing geopolitical tensions, migration crises, and internal challenges such as secularization and the need for structural reforms within the Church. Leo XIV ascends to the Chair of Peter with an agenda that, according to Vatican analysts, will likely include a renewed perspective on the Church’s role in the public sphere, as well as a continued focus on transparency, synodality, and protection of the most vulnerable.
In his first public appearance as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered a calm yet powerful message to the crowd: Help us build bridges”.
History is once again being written in Rome—but this time, with an American accent. With the election of Leo XIV, the Catholic Church takes a bold step into a new era, where tradition and renewal meet once more under the guidance of a shepherd from the heart of the North.