White smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday evening signalled that a new pope had been chosen. To the surprise of many, the elected cardinal was Robert Francis Prevost (69) – the first-ever pope from the United States.
Prevost is the 267th pope to take up the monumental role in St. Peter's Basilica. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV, which according to experts means that he has signified a commitment to dynamic social issues – in line with acts and achievements by previous pontiffs who chose the same name.
"He was born in the US but spent most of his ministry and career in South America, most of it in Peru," Professor Kathleen Cummings, a historian of Catholicism at Notre Dame, told The Brussels Times. He is someone who is not from the global South, but has much experience and a sensibility of it."
While Prevost is the first American to fill the role of pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru (he has had Peruvian nationality since 2015). Referring to Prevost's compassion, service and humility, Cummings also praised his "pastor's heart."
Building bridges
Prevost is known as a moderate who knows both the terrain and the workings of the Vatican. During his first speech, he called for "building bridges through dialogue."
Prevost is a member of the Order of St Augustine and was ordained cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, which accelerated his rise at the Vatican. Before his election, he was a member of seven dicasteries (the equivalents of ministries in the Vatican), as well as the head of the powerful dicastery for the Bishops. He advised his predecessor in appointing clergy.
Francis had a good relationship with Prevost, who is often described as discreet and reserved. For many years, the new pope had studied the so-called "peripheries": the remote or neglected areas shunned by the Church.
The Chicago-born Prevost spent a total of 20 years in Peru. He worked there as a missionary and was appointed bishop of Chiclayo, in the north of the country.
Canadian Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins (R) and Canadian cardinal Francis Leo walk on Via della Conciliazione street near The Vatican with St Peter's Basilica in the background in Rome on May 5, 2025. Credit: Belga / Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP
Within the Vatican, he has a reputation as a moderate figure capable of reconciling divergent views. While Vatican watchers had put him forward as one of the favourites ahead of the conclave, many did not believe he would be elected because he is an American.
However, his experience in the field, his global vision and his ability to navigate the Vatican bureaucracy, among others, played in his favour. No major break with Francis' policies is expected.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica described Prevost as "the least American of Americans" because of his moderate tone. Additionally, his thorough knowledge of canon law also made him reassuring in the eyes of conservative cardinals who wanted more attention to theology.
Before the conclave started, Cummings mentioned Prevost as a "dark horse" candidate, but added that it would be "improbable" that an American would be elected. However, with turbulent world politics due to US President Donald Trump's administration, many believe that Prevost' US passport played a major part in his election.
