In a historic decision, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected pope, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The announcement, reported by Newsweek on Thursday, marks a pivotal moment for a global Church facing deep internal divides and an uncertain post-Francis era.
A Historic Election Amid Internal Tensions
The 69-year-old cardinal, who spent much of his clerical career in Peru and speaks fluent Spanish and Italian, emerged as a leading candidate during the secretive conclave following the death of Pope Francis. His election reflects both a break from tradition and a carefully calibrated choice by the College of Cardinals during a period of theological and institutional reflection.
According to Newsweek, Prevost’s selection comes as cardinals wrestle with whether to continue the more inclusive, pastoral approach championed by Pope Francis or return to a stricter, doctrine-centered leadership style. Prevost appears to stand somewhere in between.
“He represents the dignified middle of the road,” said Rev. Michele Falcone of the Order of St. Augustine, speaking to The New York Times on May 2. That middle-ground stance may have been a key factor in his rise to the papacy.
Who Is Pope Leone XIV?
Ordained in 1982, Prevost’s path to the papacy was shaped by decades of service outside the United States. He earned a doctorate in canon law in Rome at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas and spent over 20 years in Peru, where he served as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. He eventually became a naturalized Peruvian citizen.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful Vatican body that oversees episcopal appointments worldwide, as reported by the Associated Press. The role placed him at the heart of the Church’s global leadership apparatus and expanded his influence among Vatican insiders.
But Prevost’s vision of leadership remains grounded in humility. In a 2024 interview with Vatican News, he remarked: “The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom,” but should instead “be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them,” according to The New York Times.
A Pope Bridging Worlds
Born in the south suburbs of Chicago and raised in the parish of St. Mary of the Assumption near Dolton, Illinois, Prevost’s American upbringing contrasts with his extensive international experience. That dual identity — Midwestern roots and deep immersion in Latin America — has made him a figure capable of bridging diverse cultures within the global Church.
“It was pretty apparent back then that was going to be his route,” John Doughney, a former classmate from St. Mary’s, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Some of us had considered it. It was kind of a fantasy for most young men. For him, I think it was a true calling.”
Daniel Rober, a professor and chair of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University, told Newsweek that Prevost may have been seen as a more practical and less politically entrenched alternative to other leading candidates, such as Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Rober noted that Prevost’s administrative strengths, paired with his outsider status from the Vatican bureaucracy, might have appealed to cardinals seeking both competence and reform.
Navigating a Global Crossroads
Prevost’s election occurs at a time of theological and geopolitical complexity. The Catholic Church is confronting pressing issues, from declining attendance in the West to political unrest in the Global South, and from internal debates on LGBTQ+ inclusion to questions about clerical accountability.
Observers say Cardinal Robert could signal continuity with Francis’ social justice orientation while adopting a more centrist doctrinal tone. His election may also reshape the Church’s global political optics, highlighting the growing influence of the Americas in Catholic life and leadership.
While reactions from other global religious leaders and political figures are still emerging, the consensus from early commentary is clear: this is a historic and symbolic break with centuries of Eurocentric papal succession.
Looking Ahead
With his papacy only just beginning, questions remain about how Pope Leo XIV will balance competing factions within the Church and address mounting global challenges. Yet in his long service record, modest public profile, and dedication to pastoral care, the new pope appears poised to continue — and possibly recalibrate — the legacy of his predecessor.
His journey from suburban Illinois to the throne of St. Peter marks not only a personal milestone but a potentially transformative chapter for the Catholic Church itself.
