A significant milestone was reached when it was announced that the new Pope hails from the United States—the first time for the Catholic Church in its long history.
On Thursday, US Cardinal Robert Prebble was selected by the Cardinal Conclave, and he greeted the assembled faithful from St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City. He took the name Leo, becoming Pope Leo XIV.
His opening words were, “It’s peace to be with you.”
At 69, Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois, and much of his professional journey was spent in Peru. He was ordained at 27 and is an alumnus of Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
In his initial address, he spoke first in Italian, then switched to Spanish. He is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, which traces its origins back to the 4th century.
The 133 Cardinals gathered at the Vatican following the passing of Pope Francis, who died at 88 in April.
President Donald Trump quickly responded to the news, stating, “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prebust on being named Pope. It’s such an honor to have the first American Pope. What excitement and a wonderful honor for our country! I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Currently, approximately 1.4 billion people are considered adherents of the Catholic faith, with about 20% of the American population identifying as Catholic.
