Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025, becoming the 267th pope of the Catholic Church. He took the papal name Pope Leo XIV and is the first American-born pope in history
. Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Franco-Italian heritage, has extensive missionary experience in Peru and holds Peruvian citizenship. He was ordained a priest in 1982 and has served as a bishop and educator in Latin America. His election marks a historic moment as the first U.S. pontiff, and he chose the name Leo XIV in reference to Pope Leo XIII, known for establishing social ethics in the Church
. The conclave that elected him lasted about 24 hours and involved 133 cardinals voting by secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the new pope
. Upon his election, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful with the words "Peace be with all of you"
