As most of you already know, the Catholic Church has recently elected a new pope. A pope is the head of the worldwide Catholic Church and of its 1.4 billion followers. The new pope, Pope Leo XIV, is the 267th pope and the first American in the Church’s 2,000-year history to be elected to the role. He is also the first pope from the Augustinian order, which emphasizes unity and service to those in need. At 69 years old, Leo succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The election process—called a conclave—began on May 7. During a conclave, cardinals remain in isolation while voting for a new leader. A candidate must receive at least a two-thirds majority to be elected. After each vote, the cardinals signal their progress to the outside world by burning special pellets: black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope. On the evening of May 8, white smoke rose from the Vatican, announcing that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost had been chosen.
Soon after, he assumed the name Pope Leo XIV and appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of cheering followers had gathered to witness the historic moment. His first words as pope were:
“Peace be with you. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation, and throughout the world.”
Reactions poured in from around the globe. Many in Peru, the United States, and elsewhere rejoiced, and even non-Catholics were moved by his words. “I’m not religious, but I was so deeply moved, and I felt love and hope in that moment,” said a Los Angeles resident. A Zen Buddhist priest from Portugal told The Guardian, “Leo XIV has already stated the most crucial issue: building bridges, world peace, and opening ourselves to welcoming all people.” His brothers, John and Louis Prevost, also reflected on his lifelong devotion to faith: “We used to tease him all the time—‘you’re going to be the pope one day,’” Louis said. “Here we are.”
Pope Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955. His father was a teacher and his mother a librarian. The family, of Creole heritage from New Orleans, included Leo and his two older brothers, Louis and John. He earned a mathematics degree from Villanova University before pursuing religious studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Ordained as a priest in 1982 at age 27, he began ministry in Peru three years later. He would remain there for more than two decades, eventually becoming a dual citizen of the United States and Peru and rising to the role of bishop. In 2023, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals and appointed him to an important Vatican position.
Over his career, Leo has consistently emphasized service to the poor and protection of the environment, priorities he intends to carry into his papacy. Friends and family have also shared lighter details: he is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, enjoys games like Wordle and Words With Friends, and is a devoted Chicago White Sox fan.
On May 18, Pope Leo was formally installed during his first public Mass in St. Peter’s Square, attended by political and religious leaders from around the world, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. During the Mass, Leo received the pallium, a white woolen band marked with crosses, symbolizing papal authority.
In his homily, Pope Leo spoke with both grief and humility:
“In these days, we have experienced intense emotions; the death of Pope Francis filled our hearts with sadness. In those difficult hours, we were like the crowds that the Gospel says were ‘like sheep without a shepherd.’ Yet on Easter Sunday, we received his final blessing. In light of the resurrection, we experienced the days that followed in the certainty that the Lord never abandons his people, but gathers them when they are scattered and guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.”
He added:
“I was chosen without any merit of my own and, now with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and joy, walking on the path with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united as one family.”
As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, the Catholic Church will see both continuity and change. While he embraces many of Pope Francis’s priorities, he will bring his own style of leadership, opting for more traditional papal customs such as residing in the papal apartment. Only time will tell how his legacy will unfold as he leads the Church through the challenges of the 21st century—inequality, artificial intelligence, and global conflict—while remaining committed to unity, compassion, and peace.
