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.

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.

"Peace be with all of you!" Those were the first words of Pope Leo XIV, the newly anointed leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. As Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost addressed the 100,000-strong crowd gathered in St.