Overview

• Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in Dolton, Illinois, was elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history.
• Prevost, 69, spent over two decades serving in Peru and holds dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship, reflecting his transnational clerical experience.
• In his first address from St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of peace and inclusivity, speaking in both Italian and Spanish.
• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, celebrated the election as a historic moment for the city and the nation.
• Prevost's election builds on the progressive reforms of Pope Francis, with whom he worked closely as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023.