New Pope Leo XIV greets crowd in St Peter's Square

On May 8, 2025, Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the papal name Leo XIV. This marks a historic moment as he becomes the first American-born pope. Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955 and has dual citizenship with the United States and Peru, reflecting his extensive missionary work in Latin America. He served over 20 years in Peru, where he was deeply involved in pastoral and educational roles, and later became the bishop of Chiclayo. His election was confirmed after four rounds of voting by the College of Cardinals.

Pope Leo XIV's first public appearance was from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, where he addressed an estimated 100,000 people in Italian and Spanish. He emphasized themes of peace, unity, and the triumph of good over evil, stating, "Evil will not prevail." His election is seen as a continuation of Pope Francis's legacy, which focused on social justice, inclusivity, and dialogue within the Church.

In his first Mass as pope, Leo XIV highlighted the Church's mission to serve marginalized communities and promote global peace. His papal name honours Pope Leo XII