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The world has a new pope: Leo XIV, an American

Evan Hummel (Producer), Kalé Carey (Anchor)

Summary

First American

Robert Prevost will be the first American pope in history after winning the support of at least 89 of 133 cardinals during a conclave.

Who is Prevost?

Prevost was born in Chicago and ministered in Peru before leading the Vatican’s office of bishops.

Pope Francis

The selection comes after the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, who led the Catholic church with a progressive ideology.

White smoke piped from the Sistine Chapel chimney May 8, signaling to the world that a new pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
Image credit: REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ

Summary

First American

Robert Prevost will be the first American pope in history after winning the support of at least 89 of 133 cardinals during a conclave.

Who is Prevost?

Prevost was born in Chicago and ministered in Peru before leading the Vatican’s office of bishops.

Pope Francis

The selection comes after the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, who led the Catholic church with a progressive ideology.

Full story

After secretive gatherings among 133 cardinals following the death of Pope Francis, the world has a new pope. The new pope is former Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, making him the first American pope in world history. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

The 69-year-old Prevost was born in Chicago and became a missionary, spending much of his career in Peru as a minister. He was also the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery of Bishops, starting in 2023 under Pope Francis. He was then promoted to cardinal-bishop in February by the former pope. The selection of Prevost, a citizen from a world “superpower,” is a rare one, as the Vatican has largely gone the other direction in its selection of new popes.

Prevost’s familial roots trace back to Italian, French and Spanish ancestors.

Stances and controversy

Prevost’s stance on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage has yet to be disclosed to the public. The new pope has been commended for his charisma and worldly experience.

Prevost is among several American cardinals who received complaints against them by the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP). He is accused by the group of mishandling abuse complaints. However, multiple people have defended Prevost, arguing one of the victims is “a disgraced priest with an axe to grind,” according to The Catholic Herald. The Herald also notes, Prevost successfully led a “diocesan commission for child protection.”

Cardinals had signaled they have selected a new leader of the Catholic church with white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel Chimney on Thursday, May 8.

Anticipation follows

Tens of thousands of people from around the globe packed St. Peter’s Square as they waited to get a look at the new pope from St. Peter’s Basilica.

The selection of a new pope comes after the death of Pope Francis the day after Easter on Monday, April 21.

The vote

Pope Francis made his first public appearance as pope just 80 minutes after white smoke billowed from the chapel’s chimney back in 2013.

Here in 2025, the cardinals reportedly spent much Thursday morning praying for guidance and performing two votes in secret as they tried to find a new pope to lead an estimated 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) and Zachary Hill (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church's 2,000-year history, signaling potential shifts in the Church's global influence and direction.

Historic first

As the first American to lead the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV's election breaks a long streak against U.S. pontiffs and represents a departure from European and Latin American leadership traditions.

Global representation

The selection of a pope with both American and Peruvian citizenship reflects the Catholic Church's increasingly diverse global composition and may indicate a continued shift away from European-centered leadership toward a more internationally representative papacy.

Leadership continuity?

Pope Leo XIV's previous appointment by Pope Francis to key Vatican positions suggests he may continue his predecessor's progressive social outreach while potentially balancing traditional doctrine, addressing questions about the Church's future direction on reforms, inclusivity and global challenges.

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Community reaction

The election drew tens of thousands to St. Peter's Square, where people from diverse backgrounds gathered in anticipation. As reported by Reuters, when white smoke appeared, crowds erupted with chants of "Viva il Papa!"

Global impact

Pope Leo XIV's election brings unique diplomatic implications as the first American pontiff during a period of global geopolitical tension. His familiarity with both North and South American perspectives positions him to bridge divisions between the Global North and the Global South.

History lesson

Leo XIV becomes only the third pope elected in May throughout Catholic history. Additionally, he follows the pattern of recent conclaves concluding quickly — Benedict XVI was elected in four ballots and Francis in five, similar to Leo XIV's reported four-ballot election.

Sources

  1. AP News
  2. USA Today
  3. The Catholic Herald

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left Left-Leaning outlets frame Cardinal Prevost’s election as a historic breakthrough emphasizing his American identity and the potential continuation of a “progressive” legacy marked by diversity and global South influence, using positively charged terms like “remarkable” and highlighting his efforts to include women in church governance.
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right In contrast, right-leaning coverage frames Prevost as a “bridge-builder” who upholds “conservative” church doctrines while cautiously acknowledging social outreach, employing neutral yet nationally proud language around him being the “first-ever American pope” without emphasizing ideological change.

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

  • Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pontiff in history, as announced by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti on May 8, 2025.
  • The conclave lasted about 24 hours and involved 133 cardinals, with Prevost requiring over 89 votes to be elected as Pope.
  • Prevost, who was made a cardinal in September 2023, has a background in missionary work in Peru and has been viewed as a moderate leader.
  • Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, after a 12-year papacy focused on reform and inclusivity within the Catholic Church.

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Key points from the Center

  • Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope, taking the name Leo XIV, on Thursday during a conclave in Vatican City attended by 133 cardinals.
  • The election followed Pope Francis’s death last month and a closely watched two-day conclave marked by divisions over the Church’s future direction between progressive and conservative cardinals.
  • At 69, Prevost spent much of his clerical career overseas, speaks Spanish and Italian proficiently, received commendations for his support of Venezuelan immigrants, but has also been criticized for his response to misconduct allegations.
  • White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m., signaling Prevost secured at least 89 votes, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the election on St. Peter’s Basilica balcony amid cheers from over 20,000 people.

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Key points from the Right

  • Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first American Pope, taking the name Leo XIV, following the death of Pope Francis after a two-day conclave.
  • The voting concluded with Cardinal Prevost earning at least 89 votes from 133 cardinal electors during the conclave, which lasted two days.
  • Prevost is recognized for his progressive stance on social issues, while also maintaining some conservative views on church doctrine.
  • White smoke signaled his election, and he made his first public appearance at St. Peter's Basilica shortly after, delivering a blessing to the crowd.

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Timeline

Sources

  1. AP News
  2. USA Today
  3. The Catholic Herald

Timeline