For the first time in history, an American-born candidate has been elected Pope. Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, and had been considered a long-shot to be selected as the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month. Prevost is the second Roman Pontiff from the Americas, after Pope Francis (who was from Argentina).
This evening, after the white smoke signalled that a new Pope had been chosen by the 133 cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, on just the second day of the Conclave, the 69-year-old was announced as the new pope.
He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.
His very first words as Pope Leo XIV were: “Peace be with all of you!”
The Vatican confirmed: “The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.”
The Cardinal said: “I announce to you a great joy: WE HAVE A POPE. The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord Robert Francis Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost
who has taken the name Leo XIV.”
Pope Leo XIV’s family background
According to the Vatican, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois.
His late father, Louis Marius Prevost, was of French and Italian descent, and his late mother Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two older brothers – Louis Martín and John Joseph.
“He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy,” said the Vatican. He later moved to Peru where he became a naturalised citizen.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis promoted Prevost to the Order of the Bishops.
When Pope Francis was hospitalised in February, it was Prevost who presided over the Rosary for the pope’s health in Saint Peter’s Square on 3 March, said the Vatican.
