Pope Leo XIV has been chosen as the newest leader of the Vatican and the Catholic Church worldwide. As the head of one of the largest religious organizations in the world, he takes on the role of one of the most prominent global leaders. Notably, Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
To become the Pope, a candidate must meet certain requirements, including being male and baptized in the Catholic faith. The journey to the papacy includes becoming a priest, then a bishop, and eventually a cardinal. Once the current pope passes away, a conclave is held, where the cardinals gather to elect a new pope.
Born Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV has devoted his life to the Catholic Church. He grew up in the suburbs near Chicago and attended Catholic school for grade school. Soon after, he began studying with the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. He later attended Villanova University, where he studied mathematics and philosophy.
After graduating from Villanova, Pope Leo XIV joined the Order of Saint Augustine in Chicago, taking his religious vows and becoming a priest just a few years later. He dedicated much of his time as a priest serving the community.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Pope Leo XIV spent several years serving the people of Peru in various roles, including as a pastor, administrator, and seminary teacher. He returned to Peru in 2001, where he continued his work until 2013.
In 2015, Pope Leo XIV was appointed bishop of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru. He served as bishop for eight years, leading the local Catholic community with pride and dedication.
In 2023, Pope Leo XIV was elected to the higher role of cardinal by Pope Francis. Following Pope Francis’s death in late April 2025, the conclave was convened to elect a new pope.
The conclave is a gathering of all the cardinals from around the world, held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. During the conclave, the cardinals vote to elect the new pope.
What goes on in the conclave is secretive; no one is allowed in or out of the Sistine Chapel while the conclave is occurring. This process looked on from affar by the public gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The public only knows what’s happening in the Sistine Chapel by the smoke that is seen from the Sistine Chapel. The crowd waits for smoke to emerge from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel: black smoke signals no decision has been made, while white smoke indicates a new pope has been chosen.
On Thursday afternoon, May 8, 2025, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of Pope Leo XIV. Soon after, he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, and the first American Pope in history.
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