Thu May 08 23:04:28 UTC 2025: ## American Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV in Surprise Choice
**Vatican City** – In a stunning upset, Cardinal Robert Prevost, a long-time missionary in Latin America and relatively unknown figure, has been elected the 267th Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. The announcement, made Thursday following the emergence of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, marks a historic first: a US-born Pope.
Pope Leo XIV, 69 and originally from Chicago, addressed the cheering crowds in St. Peter’s Square in Italian and Spanish, expressing a commitment to peace and charity. His election surprised many, given his relatively low profile and recent elevation to Cardinal in 2023. He spent the majority of his career as a missionary in Peru, where he holds dual citizenship.
President Donald Trump swiftly offered his congratulations, hailing the event as a “Great Honor for our Country.” However, this celebratory tone contrasts with past criticisms of Trump’s policies voiced by Prevost on social media. Massimo Faggioli, a Villanova University professor, suggested the choice might represent a direct rebuke of the Trump presidency’s rhetoric, arguing the upheaval created a paradoxical opportunity for such an unexpected selection.
The appointment was also warmly received in Peru, with President Dina Boluarte praising Prevost’s dedication to the needy. While echoing his predecessor Pope Francis’s focus on social justice and engagement with the modern world, Leo XIV’s adoption of traditional papal attire marked a difference from Francis’s more modest style.
However, the election has not been met with universal praise. SNAP, a US-based advocacy group for victims of clerical sex abuse, expressed concerns about Prevost’s past actions regarding alleged predatory priests, demanding accountability. Prevost himself has previously stated the Church must be transparent about abuse allegations.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, where Prevost earned a master’s degree in 1982, celebrations erupted upon the announcement. Those who knew him described him as intellectually brilliant and compassionate. The choice of the name Leo, last used by a Pope from 1878-1903, known for his social justice work, further reflects Prevost’s commitment to these issues. The new Pope’s papacy promises to be a period of significant change and challenges for the Catholic Church.
First Piper 