"Habemus Papam!": Pope Leo XIV elected to succeed late Pope Francis
The choice of Prevost was announced by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti with the Latin words "Habemus Papam"
Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.
The newly chosen head of the Catholic Church will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
He becomes the 267th pontiff, taking over after Pope Francis, who passed away after a long illness.
The election took place during a conclave attended by 133 cardinals under the age of 80.
After careful deliberation, they selected Prevost as the next leader of the global Church, a decision that marks the beginning of a new era at the Vatican.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
The new Pope comes from Chicago and is viewed as a leader with key qualities for the role.
Two years ago, Pope Francis placed great trust in him by appointing him to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops.
In this role, Prevost was responsible for identifying and appointing new bishops around the world.
Before his rise to the Vatican, he spent many years in Peru as a missionary and later served as an archbishop.
His close ties to Latin America are also seen through his work as head of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Though he is considered a reform-minded leader, at 69 years old, some observers may see him as relatively young for such a major role.
His time as an archbishop in Peru also brought controversy, after claims surfaced accusing him of covering up sexual abuse. These claims were denied by his diocese.
Younger life
Pope Leo XIV grew up in the southern suburbs of Chicago and was a member of St Mary of the Assumption parish near Dolton, Illinois, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
His upbringing in the Midwest, combined with his international experience, gives him a background that connects different regions and traditions of the Church.
He became a priest in 1982 and later earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He lived and worked in Peru for 20 years, where he became Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015 and held the position until 2023.
He also became a naturalised Peruvian citizen during his time there.
Before being chosen to lead the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, he was a member of the Order of St Augustine, where he served for many years.