The decision has been made…
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made history on Thursday as the first American pope, taking the name Leo XIV.
“Peace be with you all,” he said, delivering his first blessing from the balcony.
With 85 million U.S. Catholics behind him, Pope Leo XIV puts America front and center in the Vatican for the first time ever.
From The New York Post:
Prevost, 67, beat out perceived front-runners from Italy as well as Africa and Southeast Asia, where the church is growing at a much faster pace.
Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the St. Peter’s Basilica balcony overlooking the packed square in his papal robes just before 7:30 p.m. local time Thursday to an eruption of applause, cheers and tears from the crowd below.
Horns began blowing and drums thundered in a processional as the crowd began chanting Prevost’s papal name, “Leo! Leo! Leo! Leo!,” as they waved flags in a scene more akin to a roaring soccer stadium than the seat of the Catholic Church.
Watch clips below:
NOW – Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope in history, emerges. pic.twitter.com/rcLd1gRkQA
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV prays Hail Mary for all of the Church and peace in the world pic.twitter.com/0dGw8sEsKB
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) May 8, 2025
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