Ethan Walker
There has never been an American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, with all 266 popes up until 2025 being non-American. However, in May 2025, Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal, was elected as the first American pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Prevost's election is a significant event for American Catholics, who make up about 20% of the US adult population, and for American politics, as he is the first pope from a global superpower.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the American Pope | Pope Leo XIV |
| Former Name | Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost |
| Place of Birth | Chicago |
| Citizenship | American and Peruvian |
| Total Number of Cardinals | 133 |
| Number of Cardinals from the US | 17 |
| Number of US Cardinals eligible to vote | 10 |
| Number of Catholics in the US | 61.9 million |
| Percentage of Catholics in the US | 20% |
| Pope's first words as Pope | "Peace be with you" |
| Pope's first language | Italian |
| Other languages spoken | Spanish |
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What You'll Learn
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is elected the first American Pope
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the first American Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The election of the Chicago-born polyglot, who served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, was met with surprise and scepticism from Catholics around the world.
A Surprising Election
Cardinal Prevost's election was a surprise to many, with some Catholics worried that an American pope might bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the tumultuous American government. Prevost himself had expressed these concerns, texting a friend, "I'm American, I can't be elected". However, in the end, 133 cardinals, the most ever to gather in a conclave, elected him in a process they described as deeply spiritual and fulfilling.
A Global Pope
Despite his American roots, Pope Leo transcends borders. In addition to his years in Peru, he has Creole heritage, with records showing his grandparents may have come from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and France. He is multilingual, speaking Italian, Spanish, and English, and has a history of extensive missionary work, serving as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator.
A Pope for All the People
Adelaide Ndilu, a producer and presenter with Radio Waumini, a national Catholic radio station in Kenya, expressed hope that Pope Leo's mixed heritage would help him navigate the growing cultural and spiritual diversity among the church's members. She said, "We want a pope who can reach out to the peripheries and get the church out of its comfort zone...We want a pope for all the people."
A Pope of Firsts
Pope Leo is not just the first American Pope but also the first to hold American and Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his predecessor, Pope Francis.
A Pope of Controversy
Pope Leo has also faced some controversy, with allegations of covering up sexual abuse cases during his time as provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago. However, his supporters have defended him, saying that the cases have been inaccurately and unfairly reported in the media.
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Catholics express scepticism about an American Pope
Catholics around the world expressed initial scepticism about the election of an American pope. The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, as the first American pope, felt "fraught and disorienting" to Roman Catholics, who had considered such an outcome "unlikely and perhaps unwelcome". This was especially true given the United States' global dominance and diplomatic isolation under President Trump.
However, Pope Leo XIV's first appearance, in which he chose to speak in Italian and Spanish, rather than English, and made no mention of the United States, reassured Catholics that he would preserve the church as a global moral voice, and his multicultural and multilingual identity put them at ease.
Some Latin Americans resented the use of the word "American" to describe someone from the United States, seeing it as a form of imperialism, and believing that the term should apply to anyone from North, Central, or South America. Pope Leo's dual citizenship in Peru, where he lived and worked for over 20 years, and his Creole heritage, further complicated his identity, with some South Americans declaring him as one of their own.
The election of an American pope also raised questions about the future direction of the church, with some Catholics fearing that an American pope might bring the church closer to the tumultuous American government. However, Pope Leo's initial actions and statements, such as his warm words for Peru and his criticism of Vice President JD Vance's use of Catholic teaching to defend mass deportations, reassured Catholics that he would continue the legacy of Pope Francis, focusing on the church's ""peripheries" and serving as a global moral voice for peace and justice.
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Pope Leo XIV reassures Catholics about his stance
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has reassured Catholics that he will preserve the church as a global moral voice for peace and justice, especially for migrants, the poor, and victims of war. In his first public appearance as pope, he chose to speak in Italian and Spanish, rather than English, signalling that his identity would "defy easy categorisation".
The election of the first American pope was met with scepticism from Catholics around the world, particularly those from Latin America, who see the use of the term "American" to describe someone from the United States as a form of imperialism. Many Catholics were concerned that an American pope might bring the Roman Catholic Church closer to the controversial American government.
However, Pope Leo XIV's multilingual and multicultural identity, as well as his dual citizenship in Peru, where he served for over 20 years, has helped to ease these concerns. The new pope's heritage reflects the growing cultural and spiritual diversity among the church's members.
In addition, Pope Leo XIV's first words as pope, "Peace be with you all", echo Pope Francis' focus on peace and social justice, indicating a continuity in the church's stance on these issues.
While it is still too early to determine whether Pope Leo XIV will adopt a conservative or liberal approach to his papacy, his initial statements and actions have reassured Catholics that he will uphold the church's role as a moral compass for the world.
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Pope Leo XIV's multilingual identity
Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, is multilingual. He speaks Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and his native English, and can read Latin and German. He was born in the 1950s in the American Midwest, before multilingualism had gained popularity in the United States. He spent about a third of his life working in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, and his Spanish helped him build connections and serve those in need. Another third of his life was spent in Rome, where his Italian was beneficial to his work.
Pope Leo XIV's first address to the people as Pope was delivered in Italian, Spanish, and Latin, rather than his native English. This multilingual approach has characterized his papacy and is a significant aspect of his global presence.
The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has been historic not only for his American roots but also for his diverse and multilingual identity. His fluency in multiple languages has been advantageous throughout his life and has helped shape his global perspective as he leads the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.
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Pope Leo XIV's mixed heritage
Pope Leo XIV, born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American Pope in history. He was born in Chicago and is a polyglot, proficient in several languages.
Despite his American roots, Pope Leo XIV has a very mixed heritage. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen. Genealogists have found records suggesting that his grandparents may have come from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and France. He is also the first pope to be a citizen of Peru, making him the second consecutive pope from the Americas.
The election of an American Pope was surprising to many Catholics, who had considered it unlikely and unwelcome, especially given the United States' global dominance and political isolation under President Trump. The choice of Pope Leo XIV, with his diverse background and multilingual identity, has helped to ease these concerns.
Some Latin Americans have expressed resentment at the use of the term "American" to describe someone from the United States, as they believe it should apply to anyone from the entire continent of North, Central, and South America. The election of an American Pope has also sparked discussions about the growing diversity within the Catholic Church and the desire for a pope who can "reach out to the peripheries."
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Frequently asked questions
No, none of the 266 popes in history have been from America. However, Robert Francis Prevost, also known as Pope Leo XIV, became the first American pope in 2025.
The United States has 17 cardinals, second only to Italy. Ten of these cardinals are eligible to vote in the election of the next pope. Given that the U.S. is a world political superpower, cardinal electors might avoid picking an American pope due to concerns of possible political interference.
Robert Francis Prevost, also known as Pope Leo XIV, was the first American pope.
