By Ian Lovett, Marcus Walker and Stacy Meichtry
- Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church.
- The first U.S.-born pope is expected to be a unifying figure amid ideological tensions.
- Missionary work in South America and leading the archdiocese of Lima boosted his credentials.
VATICAN CITY—American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has become the 267th pontiff of the global Catholic Church, taking the name of Pope Leo XIV.
The new pontiff, the first from the U.S. in Christianity’s 2,000-year history, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday afternoon to a huge cheer from tens of thousands of Catholic faithful and curious tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Leo is expected to be a unifying figure after years of fractious ideological tensions between the progressive and conservative wings of the Catholic Church. As a cardinal, Pope Leo rarely took an outspoken stance on the church’s polarizing issues, such as priestly celibacy or blessings for same-sex couples.
“Peace be with you,” the 69-year-old Chicago-born Pope Leo told the crowd in his first words as pontiff. Speaking in Italian, he called for world peace and recalled with gratitude the pontificate of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.
Leo signaled continuity with the inclusive spirit of Francis’ pontificate, stressing the importance of “synodality,” or gatherings of bishops and dialogue with laypeople to discuss the major challenges facing the church. That practice, promoted under Francis, caused much anxiety among conservative Catholics.
“We must try together to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and dialogue,” Pope Leo said. He then led the faithful in the Hail Mary prayer.
Pope Leo XIV appearing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Photo: stoyan nenov/Reuters
The choice of Pope Leo XIV upends conventional wisdom that a cardinal from the U.S. was all but unelectable for the cardinals of a church that has in recent times been inclined to balance against American global power.
Leo emerged as a strong contender for pontiff in recent days thanks to his missionary work in South America and his record as a bishop in Peru. He also built a strong international network within the church while working as Pope Francis’ chief official for the appointment of bishops in large parts of the world.
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