The white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney had everyone looking up at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. After all, ‘Habemus Papam’. In other words, on the second day of the Conclave, the 133 cardinals elected the new Pope of the Catholic Church: Robert Francis Prevost.
Born in Chicago (United States of America) on September 14, 1955, Prevost is the first North American Pope and takes the name of Leo XIV. This appointment caused some initial surprise, as he was not one of the most talked about figures to assume the role of pontiff.
Who is the new Pope?
Despite being an ‘unknown’ to many, the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV is described by some media as being aligned with the ideas of Francis, with whom he worked closely.
One of the highlights of his career is his time in Peru, where he has served the Catholic Church on more than one occasion. Most recently, in 2014, he was appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and elevated to bishop.
In 2023, he was appointed cardinal and became Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.