America's First Pope: Meet Pope Leo XIV

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, a new pope has been chosen: Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American to ever become the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, USA, 69 years ago. But his life has taken him far beyond America. He worked for many years in Peru as a missionary and later became the Archbishop of a city called Chiclayo. He even became a Peruvian citizen. Many people say he is "the least American of the Americans" because of his strong ties to Latin America and the wider world. He has also served in importa

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, a new pope has been chosen: Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American to ever become the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Pope Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, USA, 69 years ago. But his life has taken him far beyond America. He worked for many years in Peru as a missionary and later became the Archbishop of a city called Chiclayo. He even became a Peruvian citizen. Many people say he is "the least American of the Americans" because of his strong ties to Latin America and the wider world. He has also served in important positions in the Vatican, including helping choose new bishops around the world. After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, 133 cardinals from across the globe met in Rome to choose the next leader of the Church. After four rounds of voting, white smoke rose from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope had been elected. According to Vatican News, when Pope Leo XIV first appeared before the crowd in St. Peter’s Square, he greeted them with simple but powerful words: “Peace be with you.” He brings with him a message of hope, unity, and understanding. Many Catholics are now looking forward to what his leadership will bring to the Church.