American Cardinal Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, making history as the first American to hold the papacy. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, Prevost, originally from Chicago and a Villanova University graduate, was introduced to cheering crowds at St. Peter's Basilica following the traditional white smoke signal. His election follows the death of Pope Francis and breaks longstanding tradition, as an American pope was previously considered unlikely due to geopolitical factors. Prevost, an Augustinian friar with extensive experience in Peru and recent roles in Vatican administration, was chosen after a conclave notable for its size and diversity, with 133 electors participating. The conclave concluded after two days of voting, reflecting both the complexity and historic nature of this selection. Pope Leo XIV greeted the world with a message of peace, signaling a new chapter for the 1.4 billion Catholics globally.