The New Pope Is American, From Chicago

by HFC Staff

Habemus papam! Or in English, we have a new pope!

The conclave, the voting ceremony wherein the cardinals choose a new pope, took place on May 7th. After a day and four rounds of voting, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney indicated that a new pope had been selected on May 8th.

Shortly after, the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, emerged from the St. Peter’s Basilica balcony to address the crowd gathered in Rome that day.

The first US-born pope

Born to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent in 1955, Robert Francis Prevost grew up in Chicago with his two older brothers. He attended Catholic schools where he served as an altar boy.

Known as “Rob” or “Bob” to his friends and family, Prevost would pursue degrees in mathematics, divinity, and canon law of the Catholic Church from universities in Pennsylvania, Chicago, and Rome.

Although an American from the United States, Prevost went on to spend most of his career overseas, particularly in Peru.

He became an ordained priest in 1982 and shortly after joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985.

In 2024, Pope Francis made Prevost the Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru. In 2023, he became an archbishop. That same year, Francis made him a cardinal and the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role that selects and supervises bishops.

The 69-year-old Prevost, now called Pope Leo XIV, is the first Roman Catholic pope from North America and the United States.

“I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you,” said the pope in his first address in the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in May 8.

He delivered the speech in Italian and Spanish.

“Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter,” he continued.

“Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward.”

The world celebrates

United States residents, especially those in Chicago, celebrated the new pope.

John Prevost, the pope’s older brother, told NBC Chicago, “It’s totally unreal. It’s totally surreal.”

“It’s a tremendous, tremendous thing to take in. But it’s something to be very proud of,” he said.

Louis Prevost, the pope’s other older brother, shared his excitement. “My brother is the pope. Wow, I can’t believe it. I think he’ll be fantastic,” he said.

For the residents of Peru, the new pope is also their pride and joy. In the middle of the pope’s first speech, he stopped and asked if he could say a few words in Spanish.

He smiled and said: “Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop.”

Leo XIV spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and as a teacher in northwestern Peru. He earned a Peruvian nationality and is remembered for his work with marginalised communities and Venezuelan refugees in Peru.

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte said, “The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru.”

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, they celebrated the new pope with a fascinating story from Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

In a post-conclave press conference with Tagle and fellow cardinals Pablo Virgilio David and Jose Advincula, the three Filipino cardinal electors shared their thoughts about their conclave experience and the new pope.

One story that stuck the most with viewers is Tagle’s first act of charity for the Holy Father. Tagle always has a candy with him, especially during the conclave when proceedings take a long time.

“Cardinal Prevost was sitting next to me. When I heard him breathing heavily, I asked him, ‘Do you want some candy?’ He said, ‘Yes, give me one.’ Then I said, ‘That’s it! That’s my first act of charity to the new Holy Father,’” he said.

Tagle also recalled that Prevost was asking him questions about the proceedings since it was Tagle’s second time participating in a conclave.

When Prevost was selected as pope, Tagle jokingly told the new pope that if he had any problems with the proceedings during the conclave, he could change it now that he is pope.

“He has a humorous side, he has a sense of humor, and he has a loud voice when he laughs,” Tagle said of Pope Leo XIV.

Tagle also told reporters in the press conference that the new pope is always calm and composed.

“He is a very level-headed person. He’s not the kind of person who is guided by just impulses and reactions,” he said.

“He listens and, if needed, he would study something. He would not immediately decide, but he would study it first. But when he comes back, you will see that everything is clear.”

The papal name

Prevost chose the papal name Leo to honor Leo XIII’s legacy.

In a first meeting with cardinals, Prevost said that there are numerous reasons behind his choice of papal name, but he shared that he is inspired by Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum.”

“Rerum Novarum” was an open letter written by Pope Leo XIII and published in 1891 that addresses the condition of the working class during the Industrial Revolution.

In Prevost’s, now Pope Leo XIV, closing statement in his first speech, he called for peace.

“To all the faithful here present, and to all those who receive his blessing through the radio, through television, and other technologies of communication. You can recognise him in the way recognised by the church,” he said.

“Let us hope that he’s preserved for a long time and ensures peace to the church throughout the world.”