Historic Moment: American Elected as 267th Pope, Takes the Name Pope Leo XIV
The Roman Catholic Church has a new leader, with Robert Prevost being elected as the 267th Pope.
He will be known as Pope Leo XIV, marking a significant milestone as the first American pontiff in history.
The Conclave, a secretive gathering of Cardinals, chose Prevost amid the third round of conclave voting. White smoke billowed from the temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that the 133 cardinals inside had reached the required two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.
In his first address to the crowd at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV said, “Peace be with you all.” The election process began on Wednesday with a special Mass known as the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice, followed by the cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel for the conclave.
The College of Cardinals included representatives from various regions, with 16 electors from North America, 17 from Italy, and 18 from Africa. Pope Leo XIV’s election comes after the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.
