Meet Robert Prevost, the first-ever pope born in the US

Xonier
May 8, 2025
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Pope Leo XIV holds two hands up with cardinals standing next to him
Pope Leo XIV seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

  • On May 8, 133 cardinals elected a new pope.
  • Cardinal Robert Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
  • Hailing from Chicago, he’s the first pope from the US.

On May 8, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel‘s chimney, indicating the College of Cardinals had elected a new pope.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, from Chicago, was then introduced as Pope Leo XIV.

He’s the first pope from the US and the 267th pope overall.

Here’s what you need to know about Pope Leo XIV.

Robert Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955.
Pope Leo XIV wearing black and red clasping his hands together
US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost attends the funeral of Pope Francis in 2025.

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

He’s 69 years old and grew up in Chicago. He’s also a citizen of Peru, where he served as Archbishop of Chiclayo. He was 27 when he became ordained in 1982, The New York Times reported.

The new pope has a doctorate and is multilingual.
Pope Leo XIV in green and tall white hat holding his hands together
Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates a Mass in 2025.

Franco Origlia/Getty Images

He studied at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago and received his doctor of canon law degree from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in 1987.

Pope Leo XIV speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.

Pope Francis appointed him to an important position.
Pope Francis and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost smile together
Pope Francis and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost in 2023.

Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

In 2023, the former pope appointed Cardinal Prevost to be in charge of the Vatican office that oversees bishop nominations all over the world, the AP reported.

A group of 133 cardinals elected him.
Cardinals of the Catholic Church at the election conclave in 2005 at the Vatican, Vatican City.
Cardinals of the Catholic Church at the papal conclave in 2005.

Arturo Mari – Vatican Pool/ Getty Images

The process is known as the conclave. It took two days and four rounds of voting for the cardinals to agree on a new pope, per the AP.

The new pope gave his first message.
Pope Leo XIV stands in front of a red curtain
Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, addresses the crowd from the balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica in 2025.

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images

Speaking from St. Peter’s Basically balcony, Pope Leo XIV said, “Peace be with all you” in his first words in his new role.

Some believe the new pope will continue his long commitment to helping the poor.

“My experience of Cardinal Prevost was that he’s not a showboat,” Father Mark R. Francis, who worked with Pope Leo in the past, recently told CBS News. “He’s very calm, but extremely intelligent, and extremely compassionate.”

Read the original article on Business Insider
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