Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. / Credit: Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
CNA Staff, May 8, 2025 / 15:52 pm (CNA).
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8 — the first pope from the United States.
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Who is Pope Leo XIV? A bio of the first American pope
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. / Credit: Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
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Americans gather in St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025, to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNAVatican City, May 9, 2025 / 18:28 pm (CNA).Americans gathered in St. Peter's Square on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. Born Robert Francis Prevost on Chicago's South Side, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar was chosen by the College of Cardinals after just two days of conclave. While American flags were scarce among the sea of international banners, those present from the U.S. lingered in the square long after the Holy Father appeared out on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time. They shared prayers, chants, and reflections on the unprecedented moment. "Never in a million years did I think that the Holy Spirit would send us a beautiful cardinal from Chicago," said Deacon Steven Marcus, a Maronite Catholic from Florida. "You ...
At a leper colony in the Kon Tum area in Vietnam in April 2025, Pontifical Missions Society USA President Monsignor Roger Landry celebrated Mass, brought Communion to people, and distributed food and sandals. / Credit: The Pontifical Mission Societies/Margaret MurrayWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 11:47 am (CNA).The American arm of the worldwide Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) is celebrating yesterday's election of Pope Leo XIV. "The Pontifical Mission Societies in the USA rejoices in the historic election of the first pontiff from the United States of America, Leo XIV, Chicago native Robert Cardinal Prevost, a missionary at heart who served for many years as a priest and bishop bringing Christ and his Gospel to the people in rural Peru," said Monsignor Roger Landry, the organization's national director since January. "Together with all of our fellow American Catholics and citizens, and with all those served in the 1,124 missionary dioceses an...
Singaporean theology student Dominic Nalpon managed to arrive at the center of St. Peter's Square in time to hear the awaited "Habemus papam!" ("We have a pope!") announcement and see the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, on May 8, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Dominic NalponRome Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 12:26 pm (CNA).From Europe to the Asia Pacific, millions of Catholics are celebrating the election of U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church.After news of "white smoke" began to spread across Rome, Singaporean theology student Dominic Nalpon managed to arrive at the center of St. Peter's Square in time to hear the awaited "Habemus papam!" ("We have a pope!") announcement and see the new Holy Father."My first impression of the new Pope Leo XIV was that he had a sense of presence about him," Nalpon told CNA on Thursday. "I was especially joyful at his name 'Leo' as it brings to mind two other popes of the same name who are dear to me.""Leo the Great who...
