When the white smoke finally drifted out of the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. on May 8, 2025, the world wasn't just looking at a new leader for the Catholic Church. It was looking at a massive historical pivot. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary who spent decades in the trenches of Peru, stepped onto the balcony as Pope Leo XIV.
He’s the first American to ever hold the keys. Ever.
Honestly, the election felt like a whirlwind. After the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, the Church moved fast. We went from mourning a titan of reform to electing a man who basically embodies "missionary synodality" in just a few weeks. If you’ve been wondering who is the new pope elected 2025, you’re looking at a 70-year-old Augustinian who seems to be the bridge between Francis’s radical mercy and the need for a steady administrative hand.
The Road to the 2025 Conclave
The transition wasn't exactly smooth. Pope Francis had been struggling. His health took a nosedive in early 2025, with a brutal bout of pneumonia that kept him in Gemelli Hospital for a month. He actually died at 88 years old following a stroke. It was a heavy moment for the 1.4 billion Catholics globally.
The conclave began on May 7. It was short. Like, really short. Prevost was elected on the fourth ballot on the second day. That kind of speed usually means the Cardinals were pretty much in agreement that the "Francis direction" needed to continue, but maybe with a slightly different flavor.
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Who Exactly is Robert Prevost?
Before he was Leo XIV, he was just Bob from Chicago.
Born in 1955, he grew up in the suburbs (Dolton, to be exact). He joined the Augustinians, which is a big deal because he’s the first Pope from that order in centuries. He isn't a career bureaucrat, though he did head the Dicastery for Bishops right before his election. Most of his "real" life was spent in Peru. He lived there as a missionary, later becoming the Bishop of Chiclayo.
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois.
- Citizenship: Dual U.S. and Peruvian.
- Background: Canon lawyer, missionary, and former Prior General of the Augustinians.
- Style: Low-key, academic but accessible, and very focused on "listening."
People who know him say he’s a "dignified middle-of-the-road" guy. He isn't a firebrand liberal, but he’s definitely not a traditionalist who wants to bring back the 1950s.
Why the Name Leo XIV?
The choice of "Leo" was a bit of a curveball. We haven't had a Leo since 1903.
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Leo XIII, his predecessor in name, wrote Rerum Novarum, the famous document on labor rights and social justice. By picking this name, the new pope elected 2025 is signaling that he cares deeply about the working class, global migration, and the "social question." It’s a bit more "classic" than the name Francis, but the heart behind it is very similar.
What has he done since being elected?
Since taking over, Leo XIV hasn't wasted time. He had to jump straight into the 2025 Jubilee Year, which was already in full swing. He spent the first few months basically finishing what Francis started. But now that it's early 2026, he’s starting to show his own teeth.
Just this month, he met with families of the Crans-Montana fire victims in Switzerland. He also gave a massive "State of the World" speech to diplomats where he used St. Augustine’s ideas to talk about "The City of God." He’s basically telling world leaders to stop with the "excessive nationalism" and start talking again.
He’s also bringing all the world's cardinals to Rome this year for a massive two-day meeting. He wants to talk about how the Church functions in a world dominated by AI and shifting borders.
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Will he change the Church's stance on big issues?
Don't expect a total 180. Leo XIV is a protege of Francis in many ways. He’s stuck to the script on climate change and helping the poor. However, he’s a canon lawyer by training. This means he might be more precise with the rules. Where Francis was sometimes "messy" (his own word!), Leo might be a bit more orderly.
He’s already started a new series of talks on the Second Vatican Council. He thinks people have forgotten what it actually said and are just arguing about "interpretations." He wants to get back to the actual texts. It's a very "teacher" move.
What most people get wrong about him
The biggest misconception is that because he’s American, he’ll be a "pro-American" pope. That’s just not how the Vatican works. If anything, his time in Peru gave him a very "Global South" perspective. He’s critical of unbridled capitalism and has already spoken out against the way "Western powers" handle migration.
Also, he’s not a "safe" conservative pick. The traditionalist wing of the Church was actually pretty nervous about him because he was Francis's point man for picking new bishops. He’s a reformer, just a quieter one.
Actionable Insights for the Faithful and Observers
If you're following the papacy of the new pope elected 2025, here is how you can stay informed and engage with this new era:
- Read his General Audiences: Every Wednesday, he does a teaching session. Since January 2026, he’s been focusing on Vatican II. If you want to know his real priorities, read the transcripts on the Vatican website rather than just the news headlines.
- Watch the "Consistory": He’s calling the Cardinals to Rome soon. This will be the first real "Leo XIV" roadmap for the future of the Church's administration.
- Follow the Diplomatic Moves: Keep an eye on his "dialogue" efforts in places like Iran and Ukraine. He’s leaning heavily into a mediator role that is slightly more academic and structured than his predecessor's.
- Download the Vatican News App: It’s the fastest way to get his daily homilies from Santa Marta, where he—like Francis—has chosen to keep living.
The era of Pope Leo XIV is just beginning. It's a mix of Chicago pragmatism, Peruvian missionary zeal, and Roman legal precision. It's going to be a very interesting few years.