First ever American Pope announced as Cardinal Robert Prevost known as ‘Father Bob’ elected by Conclave & named Leo XIV
Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first ever American Pope
- Aliki Kraterou – TheUSSUN.com
HISTORY has been made as the First American Pope will lead the Catholic church with outsider Robert Prevost taking up name of Leo XIV after less than 24 hours of secret voting in the Sistine Chapel.
The new Pope – known to many as “Father Bob” – stepped out onto the balcony in the Vatican to cheering crowds as he greeted them by saying “peace be with you”.
The Chicago-born Pope, 69, was announced after Cardinal Mamberti declared: “Habemus papam!” – Latin for “We have a pope!”.
Leo XIV’s life saw him start out as an altar boy, before studying maths and joining the church – spending much of his years as a missionary working in South America.
His election saw him come from being a total outsider – with odds of 66/1 before he was unveiled to crowds of the faithful in Rome.
He is seen as more traditional than Francis – but not the conservative hardliner some in the church were hoping for after his predecessor’s efforts to make the faith more progressive.
The new pontiff urged people to “build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace”, before paying homage to Pope Francis.
The new Pope said: “Together we must try to find out how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue and is open to receives everybody,” he says.
Shortly afterwards, the pontiff – who is fluent in six languages, was heard speaking in Spanish, saying: “I would particularly like to say hello to my compatriots from Peru.
“It was a great pleasure for me to work in Peru.”
US President Trump was quick to congratulate the Pope Leo XIV and said it’s “a great honour” for the US.
He posted on Truth Social: “What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV.
“It will be a very meaningful moment!”
But the new Pope could be on a collision course with Trump after critical retweets about the President and his administration emerged moments after his election.
Sir Keir Starmer has branded the election of the first American Pope as a “momentous moment” and said that he looks “forward to meeting the Holy Father and continuing to work closely with the Catholic Church”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the new Pope.
He said: “Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.
“At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.
“I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength—both spiritual and physical—in carrying out his noble mission. Ad multos annos!”
His deeply religious parents often hosted priests and bishops for lunch at their home when he was a boy, and a life in the church was always his ambition.