Cardinal Prevost Elected as New Pope, Succeeding Pope Francis
posted 8th May 2025
Cardinal Prevost Elected as New Pope, Succeeding Pope Francis
Vatican City, 8 May 2025 – In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cleric with deep ties to Peru, has been elected as the new pope, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away last month. The announcement came after a conclave of 133 cardinal electors, gathered in the Sistine Chapel, reached the required two-thirds majority to select the 266th pontiff. White smoke billowed from the chapel’s chimney at 4:47 PM local time, signalling the successful election, followed by the traditional proclamation of “Habemus Papam” from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Cardinal Prevost, 69, who has taken the papal name Pope Augustine I, becomes the first American pope in the Church’s history, breaking a centuries-long tradition of European and, more recently, Latin American pontiffs. His election is seen as a nod to the growing influence of the Americas in global Catholicism, while his dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship and extensive international experience have positioned him as a unifying figure for a diverse and often polarised Church.
Prevost emerged as a compromise candidate in a conclave described as one of the most unpredictable in modern times. With no clear frontrunner, the cardinals faced a delicate balance between continuing Pope Francis’ progressive reforms and addressing calls from conservative factions for a return to traditional doctrine. Prevost, known for his pastoral approach and expertise in canon law, was pitched by supporters as a “dignified middle of the road” who could bridge these divides.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost spent much of his career outside the United States, serving as a missionary and later as an archbishop in Peru.
He rose to prominence as the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, a role he assumed in 2023 under Pope Francis, where he oversaw the selection of bishops worldwide. His appointment as a cardinal in 2023 and promotion to cardinal-bishop in February 2025 further elevated his profile.
Vatican insiders described Prevost as a “dark horse” whose quiet rise in the days leading up to the conclave caught many by surprise. “He was not the loudest voice, but his humility and commitment to Francis’ vision of a more inclusive Church resonated,” said an anonymous source close to the conclave.
He is now Pope Leo the XIV
