Who saw this coming?
In a twist that left even seasoned Vatican watchers blinking in disbelief, Cardinal Robert Prevost—a soft-spoken missionary from Chicago—has been elected.
He is the first-ever American pope.
Say hello to Pope Leo XIV.
When the white smoke curled above the Sistine Chapel, signaling a new era for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
Few guessed the name on everyone’s lips would be Prevost.
What’s His Background?
A longtime missionary in Peru with dual nationality, he’s more known for compassion than headlines.
“Peace be with you all,” Pope Leo greeted the sea of faithful in St. Peter’s Square—first in Italian, then Spanish.
No English, despite his Chicago roots.
He wasn’t a frontrunner. In fact, his election stunned many.
“The Holy Spirit continues to surprise us,” quipped veteran Vatican analyst Rev. Thomas Reese.
Pope Leo steps into big shoes, succeeding Francis, the trailblazing reformer.
But he’s not backing away.
He thanked Francis and vowed to keep the Church engaged with the world, especially “those who are suffering.”
And yes, President Trump already chimed in.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.”
