New Pope Elected: Robert Prevost Named First American Pontiff in History
133 cardinals from around the world made the decision in a little more than 24 hours on Thursday
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday signaled that a conclave of cardinals have selected a new pope: Robert Prevost of the United States. He is the first American Pope in history and will go by Leo XIV. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France made the announcement.
Prevost, 69, comes from Chicago. CNN reports that Prevost did missionary work in Peru and led a Vatican office for vetting bishops. He was the bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023; notably, he added three women to the voting bloc for bishops. His election is remarkable, according to The Associated Press, since Americans have not been elected pope in recent years because of the country’s geopolitical power.
The largest group of cardinals in history, 133 total, had sequestered themselves in the iconic Vatican City chapel to determine Pope Francis’ successor, following his death last month after a 12-year papacy. The New York Times reports that the conclave itself lasted a little more than 24 hours; previous elections have stretched out two or three days. Pope Francis had appointed many of the cardinals who participated in the vote, but some were meeting for the first time.