Historic Moment: Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected First American Pope, Takes Name Leo XIV

 

Vatican City, May 8, 2025, in a historic first for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected as the 267th pope, marking the first time an American has been chosen to lead the Church in its 2,000-year history.

The 69-year-old former missionary to Peru, who currently heads the Vatican’s influential office of bishops, has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. The announcement came Thursday evening following the appearance of white smoke from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the College of Cardinals had reached a two-thirds majority decision during the conclave.

Stepping onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pontiff greeted the world for the first time, delivering a message filled with hope and unity.

Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God, Pope Leo declared to a roaring crowd in St. Peter’s Square. So, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward.

He expressed deep gratitude to his predecessor, saying, thank you Pope Francis, and emphasized the need for a missionary Church that builds bridges and welcomes everyone.

Pope Leo XIV repeatedly returned to the theme of peace in his address, calling for global disarmament, reconciliation, and unity. He spoke in gentle yet confident tones, urging the world to turn toward healing rather than division.

According to Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid, the newly elected pope’s speech set a clear tone for his papacy: He had a political tone there, calling for peace everywhere, calling for disarmament, calling for