Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the first ever pope from the United States, a surprise selection by 133 cardinals from across the globe on the second day of the papal conclave in Rome.
The new pontiff, who took the name Leo XIV, greeted the thousands of exuberant faithful and onlookers, many overcome with emotion as he spoke from the red velvet-draped central balcony at St. Peter’s Square.
“Peace be with you,” he told the cheering crowd in fluent Italian. Leo, who became the church’s 267th pope, also spoke in Spanish but not English in his brief address.
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Prevost, 69 and originally from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian nationality. He became a cardinal only in 2023 and less than two years later will officiate his first Mass as pope Friday, May 9, in the Sistine Chapel at 11 a.m. local time, 5 a.m. ET.
Leo thanked Pope Francis and repeated his predecessor’s call for a church that is engaged with the modern world and “is always looking for peace, charity and being close to people, especially those who are suffering.”
He wasn’t one of the names mentioned frequently as top contenders to succeed Francis, who died April 21.