VATICAN CITY — As the bells of St Peter’s Basilica rang out, the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square erupted in familiar chants: “Viva il Papa!” The announcement that followed marked a turning point in the Church’s history.
Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal with roots in both the United States and Latin America, has been elected the 267th Pope. He will be known as Leo XIV — the first American ever to hold the papacy, and only the second pontiff from the Americas after his predecessor, Francis.
The choice signals continuity as much as it does change. Prevost, a native of Chicago who has spent much of his life serving in Peru, has long been considered a bridge between continents, traditions, and communities.
A Life Between Worlds
Born in 1955 to a family of Spanish and Franco-Italian heritage, Prevost’s journey to the Vatican began in the pews of his local parish. He served as an altar boy before being ordained in 1982. Three years later, he left the United States to join the Augustinian mission in Peru, where he would spend the next decade as a parish priest and seminary teacher in Trujillo.
Those years left a deep mark. Locals remember him as a pastor close to the poor, an advocate for the marginalised, and a man committed to reconciliation. He eventually became Bishop of Chiclayo, a post he assumed in 2015 after being appointed by Pope Francis.
Though naturalised as a Peruvian citizen, Prevost remained tied to his roots, frequently returning to Chicago to serve in pastoral roles. In 2023, he was appointed Archbishop and elevated to cardinal shortly after.
He also held one of the Vatican’s most powerful offices: prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the global selection and supervision of bishops. That role placed him at the centre of Church governance — and under Francis’ reformist wing.
A Francis Loyalist
From the outset, Pope Leo XIV made clear his admiration for Francis. In his first address from the balcony, he spoke of “the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us.”
“United and hand in hand with God, let us advance together,” he told the cheering crowd below.
Prevost is expected to continue many of the paths laid by Francis. He has voiced concern over issues like migration, poverty, and climate change — often echoing the social teachings of his predecessor.
Though American, he hasn’t shied away from taking a stance that sets him apart from conservative voices back home. As a cardinal, he publicly criticised former US policies on immigration. In one case, he shared a post condemning the Trump administration’s deportation of a long-term US resident to El Salvador. He also amplified an editorial that rebuked Vice President JD Vance for prioritising love for country over love for strangers.
“JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” the headline read. Prevost didn’t add comment — he let the message speak for itself.
A Delicate Mandate
His election comes at a time of deep division within the Catholic Church — not just between progressive and conservative camps, but also across continents. That he is seen as both American and Latin American may help him navigate those fractures.
Still, challenges await. The Church continues to face scrutiny over its handling of clerical sexual abuse. Prevost’s own diocese in Peru was touched by scandal, though there is no evidence linking him to any cover-up. The Vatican has described such issues as among the most pressing facing the Church today.
Ahead of the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the cardinals had sought “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair.”
Whether Pope Leo XIV can be that figure remains to be seen. But for now, the crowds in Rome have made their feelings known — “Long live the Pope.”
