Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, first American pontiff in history

Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - VATICAN CITY, May 9 — Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV yesterday after cardinals from around the globe chose him to be the first leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics from the United States.

Tens of thousands cheered as Leo, successor to the late pope Francis, appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first address.

“To all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole Earth, peace be with you,” the smiling 69-year-old Chicago native told the crowd.

“Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace.”

Leo’s speech drew warm applause, especially a section where the prelate — who spent more than two decades in Peru — broke into Spanish, and also when he paid tribute to the popular Francis.

“We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous, voice of pope Francis blessing Rome,” he said, referring to the ailing Argentine’s Easter Sunday address, a day before his death.

“We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which hold dialogues, which is always open,” he said.

(From left) Deputy Secretary General of the Peruvian Episcopate Guillermo Pereda, Bishop of Callao Luis Barrera Pacheco, President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference Carlos Enrique Garcia, and Secretary General of the Peruvian Episcopate Antonio Santarsiero Rosa are seen during a press conference after the naming of US Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new Pope Leo XIV at the Peruvian Episcopal Conference in Lima on May 8, 2025. — AFP pic

‘Great honour’

Prevost’s election was greeted with elation in Peru, where he was bishop in the northern city of Chiclayo and had acquired nationality, as well as the United States.

Outside New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rosaria Vigorito, 66, said she could “feel the excitement just in the few minutes I’ve been walking around.” She hoped Leo XIV would be a reformer who would allow women priests.

“He loved goat, duck with rice and ceviche. Those were his favourite dishes,” Chiclayo’s current bishop Edison Farfan told a press conference highlighting the new pope’s deep links to the South American nation.

Prevost had been talked about as among the “papabili” — cardinals thought qualified for the papacy — and as someone who could defend and further Francis’s legacy.

But he was not a globally-recognised figure among the Catholic rank and file.

World leaders raced to welcome the 267th pope and promised to work with the Church on global issues at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

Leo now faces a momentous task. As well as asserting his moral voice on a conflict-torn world stage, he must try to unite a divided Church and tackle burning issues such as the continued fall-out from the sexual abuse scandal.

As Cardinal Prevost, the new pope had defended the poor and underprivileged and had reposted articles online critical of US President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant policies. But the White House chief nevertheless welcomed the election.

“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named pope,” Trump said in a social media post.

“It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country.”

It was not known how many ballots it took to elect Leo XIV, but the conclave followed recent history in wrapping up in less than two days.

While the details of the election will forever remain secret, the new pope had to secure at least two-thirds of votes to be elected.

White smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. — Reuters pic

‘Amazing’

The crowds swelled with emotion when white smoke billowed into the sky from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling an election on the second day of voting.

The bells of St Peter’s Basilica and churches across Rome rang out and crowds rushed towards the square to watch the basilica balcony, fitted out with red curtains for the first address from the new pope, who was introduced in Latin.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Joseph Brian, a 39-year-old chef from Belfast in Northern Ireland, who came with his mother to Rome for the spectacle.

“I’m not an overly religious person but, being here with all these people just blew me away,” he told AFP as people around him jumped in excitement.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost (left) addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church's 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV. — AFP pic

‘Habemus Papam’

“Habemus Papam, woooo!” howled Bruna Hodara, 41, from Brazil, echoing the words to be spoken on the balcony as the new pope is introduced.

She, like others, recorded the historic moment on her phone, as others waved flags and cried out “Viva Il Papa!” — “Long live the pope!” in Italian.

The papal inauguration usually takes place less than a week after the election with a mass celebrated before political and religious leaders from around the world.

Ahead of that, Leo will lead a mass Friday for cardinals in the Sistine Chapel and recite the Regina Caeli prayer in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

He will hold an audience for the media on Monday.

Cardinals react from a balcony of the St Peter's Basilica, as the new pope makes his first appearance after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. — AFP pic

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists Prevost’s choice of papal name was “a clear reference to the social doctrine of the Church”.

Leo XIII, who was pope at the end of the 19th century, was a determined defender of the rights of workers.

Francis died aged 88 after a 12-year papacy during which he sought to forge a more compassionate Church.

While he provoked anger from conservatives with his progressive approach, there had been many Catholics calling for a successor in his vein.

Some 80 per cent of the cardinals who voted for Prevost were appointed by Francis.

With electors hailing from 70 countries, it was the most international conclave ever. — AFP