Robert Prevost has been chosen as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, The Guardian reported on May 8th.
Addressing 100,000 pilgrims in St Peter’s Square from the basilica balcony, the 69-year-old declared, “Evil will not prevail,” and urged the world to “build bridges” in pursuit of peace.
Prevost, who hails from Chicago and spent over two decades living in Peru, was selected by at least two-thirds of the 133 cardinals. His election marks the end of the Vatican’s long-held reluctance to appoint a pontiff from the US.
Speaking in Italian and Spanish, Leo XIV’s message was global in scope. “Peace be with you. A disarmed, disarming, humble peace…God loves us all, unconditionally,” he said.
Observers say Leo XIV’s papal name historically represented strength in times of crisis and signals continuity of the late Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88.
As the ex-head of the Augustinian order, Prevost played a key role in one of Francis’s most progressive reforms, including the inclusion of women in the bishop nomination process.
Donald Trump was among the first to congratulate Leo XIV; however, the new pope’s emphasis on inclusion and social justice contrasts with the president’s record and rhetoric.
He has spoken out against US immigration policies under the Trump administration, accusing the government of failing to “see the suffering” of migrants and refugees. In February, he effectively challenged Vice President JD Vance, reposting a Catholic op-ed, titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
Leo’s election also drew reactions from global and local leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the Vatican would sustain its “moral and spiritual support” for Ukraine under Leo’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called him “dope,” tweeting, “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!”
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte went further, proclaiming, “The Pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru!” in a nod to Leo XIV’s experience as bishop of Chiclayo and his naturalised Peruvian citizenship.
The new pope enters his role during global unrest and internal church divisions. Wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan persist, while issues such as migration, climate justice, religious freedom, and human rights remain urgent.
“[He] brings with him the vital perspective of the global south, elevating voices from the margins to centre stage,” said Christine Allen, director of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network added that Leo XIV’s selection “is a special acknowledgment of the need to support the poor and workers.”
The Guardian
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