Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has made history as the first American-born Pope. Though born in the U.S., he spent most of his religious life in Peru—eventually becoming a citizen—and served as archbishop of Chiclayo. His deep Latin American roots and alignment with Pope Francis’s reforms made him a popular choice among Latin and North American cardinals.
Leo has long spoken out on social justice. In 2018, he posted: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages”—a clear rebuke of Trump-era immigration policies. He also shared a letter from Peruvian Catholic leaders thanking the Trump administration for halting family separations, highlighting regional empathy for migrants fleeing crisis, such as Venezuelans.
His election shocked many due to the Vatican’s historic reluctance to choose an American pope, given U.S. global power. Still, President Trump and VP JD Vance quickly congratulated him, calling it a great honor for the country.
Leo addressed the crowd in Italian and Spanish, emphasizing peace, dialogue, and missionary outreach. He wore the traditional red cape—unlike Francis in 2013—and delivered his first message from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Peace be with you.” The square erupted in cheers and emotion, signaling the start of a new papal chapter.
About an hour later, the senior cardinal deacon stepped onto the balcony and announced, “Habemus Papam!”—revealing Prevost as the new pope. A huge crowd, with people waving flags from all over the world, had been waiting eagerly to see who was chosen.
When he addressed the crowd, he didn’t speak in English. Instead, he spoke in Spanish and Italian.
The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the Church from 1878 to 1903. His 1891 letter, Rerum Novarum, talked about capitalism and workers’ rights. It also helped shift the Church’s attitude toward modern ideas—like science and politics—and shaped the way Catholic social teaching is understood today.
