Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Leo XIV, as reported by official Turkmen media on Friday.
The traditional announcement — “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) — was delivered from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.
Prevost, 69, is the first American‑born pope in the Church’s history. His election was met with cheers and celebration from an estimated 45,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, and holds dual American and Peruvian citizenship. He was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops on January 30, 2023, and was created cardinal by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023.
