Robert Prevost or Leo XIV becomes the first American to become Pope
Person in News
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Robert Francis Prevost became the first American to be elected as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on 8th May 2025. After being elected as the 267th Pope in the Vatican, he assumed the name of Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV succeeded Pope Francis, who died on 21 April 2025.
Election of Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV was elected by a College of Cardinals locked in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. As per tradition, they are locked in the Chapel until a new Pope is elected.
In the past, it has taken weeks and even months to elect a new Pope, but this time, a new Pope was elected within the second day of the Cardinals' meeting.
The newly elected Pope must secure at least two-thirds of the voting Cardinals.
One hundred thirty-three Cardinals of the College voted in the election, and Pope Leo XIV was chosen as the new Pope.
As per tradition, when the College of Cardinals elects a new Pope, white smoke comes out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney, signalling the election of a new Pope to the world.
About Pope Leo XIV
Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, the United States of America, in 1955.
He holds dual citizenship of the United States and Peru.
He was ordained in 1952 and later moved to Peru, where he worked for over 20 years.
He worked in some of Peru's most poverty-stricken areas. In 2014, the then-Pope Francis made him the Bishop of Chiclayo.
In 2023, he was made a Bishop, and later Pope Francis made him a Cardinal.
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