Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost – now known as Pope Leo XIV — is the first pope from the United States. The 69-year-old from Chicago is known as a leader with global experience. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments.

After less than 24 hours of seclusion in the Vatican, cardinals ended the 2025 papal conclave with the election of a new pontiff. The man chosen, Cardinal Robert Prevost, will be known as Pope Leo XIV — the first pope ever from the United States.

The new Pope is Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - the first American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church Chicago-born Prevost is seen as a reformer and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there