Leo XIV, the new Pope

Leo XIV is the new Pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church. The 133 cardinals of the most multicultural conclave in history elected the new pontiff in a conclave that was swifter than anticipated. The chosen candidate secured 89 votes, the two-thirds majority required for election.

“The peace be with all of you, sisters and brothers” was the first message from Leo XIV. “Help us build bridges,” the Supreme Pontiff asked those gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Leo XIV revived the papal presentation attire that Pope Francis had previously rejected. Cardinal Prevost emerged, ready to address the crowd, dressed in the red mozzetta (a short garment covering the back and chest), the embroidered stole, the golden cross, and the rochet.

Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago to French and Spanish parents. He has spent 40 years in Peru, where he served as bishop. With a calm and humble demeanor, he was not opposed by any sector of the Catholic Church, perhaps due to his very low profile (he has given no interviews). He is one of the few whom Pope Francis singled out in 2023, unexpectedly appointing him head of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, a position that has allowed him to engage with every continent. He has extensive experience both in pastoral work and governance, having served as the superior of the Augustinian order to which he belongs, and he is well-versed in the workings of the Curia.

With the election of Prevost, the long-standing taboo against selecting a Pope from a global superpower has been broken. A U.S. Pope at this moment, with Donald Trump in power, represents a significant shift for the Church, positioning it to engage directly with the White House and the American people.

Trump congratulated Prevost in a post on Truth Social: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement and what a Great Honor for our Country,” he posted. “I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”

The conclaves of the past century have been relatively brief, lasting between two and five days. There is no time limit for a conclave, and none has lasted more than five days since 1830. In 2005, it took just 24 hours and four ballots to elect Benedict XVI. In 2013, Francis was elected on the second day of the conclave after five rounds of voting: one on the first day, two the following morning, and two more that same afternoon.

The 12 general congregations of cardinals held over the past two weeks have been an intense debate about the state of the Church. In more than 260 interventions, the cardinals — both those eligible to enter the conclave (under 80 years old) and those who are not — have been outlining a shared map of concerns and pressing issues. Based on that agenda, the search has focused on for the right man to be pope, someone seen as capable of addressing those challenges.

In 2013, following Benedict XVI’s resignation, the priority was to clean house, restore order, fix the accounts, root out corruption, and confront the clerical sexual abuse scandal head-on. In short, to breathe new life — with a new style — into the Church after the 27-year papacy of John Paul II and the eight-year epilogue of Benedict XVI.

Francis’ 12 years have been a whirlwind that has shaken the Church, created divisions, and left many processes still unresolved. The new pope must now decide which path to follow.

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