Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pontiff
- Marcelo Serafim
- May 26
- 6 min read
On May 8, 2025, the Catholic Church witnessed a historic moment when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American-born pope and the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost’s journey to the papacy is a remarkable tale of faith, service, and global outreach. His election followed the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, and came after four ballots in a conclave, with white smoke signaling his selection to a crowd of 150,000 in St. Peter’s Square. Choosing the name Leo XIV, inspired by Pope Leo XIII’s legacy of social justice, Prevost signaled his intent to address modern challenges like artificial intelligence and human dignity.
