American Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes Pope Leo XIV

In a historic and unexpected decision, U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected on Thursday as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the papal name Leo XIV. The Chicago native is the first American ever to become pope.

White smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney signaled his election by the 133 cardinal electors, and about 70 minutes later, Pope Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the public as the Church’s new spiritual leader, representing 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.