The Catholic Church Has a New Pope

The Catholic Church has a new pope. American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the 267th pontiff and has chosen the name Leo XIV, as announced by a senior cardinal deacon.

At 69 years old, this Chicago native is the first American to hold the papacy and is recognized for his diplomatic approach within the Church. Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinals, the Church's highest-ranking clergy, convened in a secret conclave in Rome to select a new leader.

On Thursday afternoon, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and the bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled, signaling the election of a new pope. The cardinals conducted at least four ballots at the Vatican before one cardinal secured the necessary two-thirds majority.

More than an hour after the appearance of the white smoke, the new pope, dressed in papal garments, emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to greet the world. He referenced Pope Francis twice and expressed his intention to continue the late pope's mission, echoing Francis's words from the same balcony during Easter, before delivering the Urbi et Orbi blessing, which means "to the city and the world."

"We must be a Church that collaborates to build bridges and keep our arms open, welcoming like this very piazza," Leo told the crowd in Italian. His full authority officially commenced immediately upon his acceptance of the papacy, even before the public announcement.

Significance of Papal Name

Leo is the fifth-most-common name among popes. The director of the Holy See informed reporters on Thursday that this name is a "direct reference to Leo XIII," the last pope to adopt the name. Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death in 1903, was a pivotal figure in the Catholic social justice movement. His encyclical "Rerum Novarum," meaning "Of New Things," is regarded as the foundation for the Church's modern social doctrine, according to the Holy See director.

"Historically, popes named Leo have been strong leaders," Father Vito Crincoli told ABC News on Thursday. "Like Leo XIII, he cared deeply for his people, viewing them as individuals rather than machines. A person's work reflects their dignity."

"We don't know yet why he chose the name Leo, but it would be fascinating to find out," he added regarding Pope Leo XIV. While popes are not required to change their names, every pontiff for the last 470 years has chosen a new name, typically honoring a predecessor and signaling their intent to follow in their footsteps. Pope Francis notably chose the name of St. Francis of Assisi, diverging from this tradition.

Emergence as a Front-Runner

In the days leading up to the conclave, Pope Leo began to emerge as a strong candidate for the papacy, according to Rev. James Martin, a papal contributor for ABC News. After the new pope was announced, Martin described Leo as "very down-to-earth," kind, and reserved. Leo was the only U.S. cardinal on a short list of potential papal candidates, known as "papabiles," compiled after the death of Pope Francis by The Associated Press.

First Augustinian Friar Elected Pontiff

In addition to being the first pope from the United States, Leo is also the first Augustinian friar to ascend to the papacy. He graduated from Villanova University, one of only two Augustinian Catholic universities in the U.S., in 1977. "As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this momentous day for both our university community and the global Church," said Rev. Peter Donohue, the university's president, in a statement. "Villanova, grounded in St. Augustine's teachings, has always aimed to deepen the understanding of the essential relationship between faith and reason, spirituality and wisdom. With the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I reflect on what his Augustinian leadership will mean for our community and the world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, wisdom, and warmth, Pope Leo XIV's leadership presents a chance to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission."

Leo entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 in the province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, located in Saint Louis, according to his biography on the Vatican Press website. He earned a theology diploma from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982 and later studied canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University, receiving priestly ordination on June 19, 1982. After obtaining his licentiate in 1984, he served in the mission of Chulucanas, Piura, Peru, from 1985 to 1986. He predominantly worked in Peru until returning to Chicago in the late 1990s, where he was elected to lead the Augustinians' Midwest province in 1999. He was later elected twice as the prior general, the top leader of the Augustinian religious order.

Brought to the Vatican by Pope Francis

Pope Francis appointed Leo to work at the Vatican, first naming him bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He has spent much of his career in Peru, where he has also served as a teacher, missionary, and parish priest. During his remarks from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Leo briefly spoke in Spanish and acknowledged the Diocese of Chiclayo specifically.

In April 2020, Francis appointed him as the apostolic administrator of the diocese of Callao in Peru. As of 2023, he has served at the Vatican as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the vetting of bishop nominations worldwide. In October 2024, Leo told Vatican News that a "bishop is not meant to be a little prince ruling over his kingdom, but is called to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and share in their struggles."

He also currently presides over the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In a 2023 interview with the Catholic News Service, he was asked how he addresses issues with bishops or dioceses. He responded by reminding clergy to reflect on their commitment to "live and work in communion with the Holy Father." "The spirit of synodality includes a need and desire to listen not only to the bishop but to many people in the diocese to determine the best ways to foster an authentic Church in every diocese around the world," he stated at that time.