Pope Leo XIV Makes History as First American Leader of the Catholic Church
For the first time in its history, the Catholic Church will be led by an American-born Pope. The College of Cardinals elected on Thursday as the Church's new leader 69-year-old American Robert Prevost, who took the name of Pope Leo XIV and told the cheering crowd in St. Peter's Square he is "always seeking peace and justice, seeking to work with men and women who are faithful to Jesus Christ without fear to proclaim the gospel."
Leo was elected on the fourth ballot and is considered a consensus candidate.
"God loves us. God loves everyone," he said through a translator. "Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves, let us go forward. We are the disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light."
Leo was born in Chicago in 1955 and earned a degree in mathematics at Villanova University in Pennsylvania before joining the Order of St. Augustine and then receiving his master of divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He served as a missionary in Peru and eventually was named bishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and made him a cardinal, entrusting him with one of the most influential positions in the Vatican.
He succeeds Pope Francis, who died April 21.
Although a consensus candidate, Pope Leo XIV has voiced support for the Church's teachings on hot-button social issues. In 2012, for example, he lamented that popular culture has fostered "sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," according to The New York Times. He pointed to the "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children" as examples. In Peru, he opposed a proposal to teach children about transgenderism, saying, "The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist."
On the issue of the poor, experts say Leo is close to Francis' position. Last year, Leo said church leaders are "called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them."
The U.S. organization Students for Life applauded Leo's election, saying he "has consistently opposed abortion, calling it 'a form of murder' and affirming the Church's teaching that Life begins at conception."
BREAKING! HABEMUS PAPAM! Cardinal Robert Prevost has been chosen as the 267th Roman Pontiff taking the name Pope Leo XIV. This is his first appearance to the city of Rome and the World from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.#catholicchurch #newpope #habemuspapam #popeleoxiv pic.twitter.com/kwVseMES7C
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) May 8, 2025
Let's Discuss Pope Leo XIV!
Pope Leo XIV is known for his conservative theological stance paired with a strong voice on moral clarity in public life. While some see this as a hopeful return to tradition, others are questioning how his American roots and worldview may impact the Church’s global priorities. What does this election mean for the Catholic Church’s direction? Do you think Pope Leo XIV’s nationality will influence his leadership—or is the Church already bigger than borders? Want to share your thoughts? Crosswalk Forums is a safe space community where you can comment on current events and other faith-based hot topics --> Share your thoughts today!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ALBERTO PIZZOLI/Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published May 08, 2025.
