AMERICAN PRIDE Soars: Chicago Cardinal Shocks World as First US Pope
— History was made on May 8, 2025, when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago became the first American pope. He chose the name Leo XIV. Crowds cheered in St. Peter’s Square as white smoke signaled his election from the Sistine Chapel.
At age 69, Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd in both Italian and Spanish, showing his strong ties to North and South America. He has spent years working as a missionary and bishop in Peru and has helped lead bishops around the world.
His election comes after Pope Francis passed away on April 21. Many see this new pope as a sign that the Catholic Church is becoming more global. During his first Mass, Pope Leo XIV called for unity and hope, asking Catholics to be a “beacon of light” during tough times.
People in Chicago are proud of their hometown cardinal’s rise to the papacy. Local churches celebrated this historic moment with special events and prayers. Many Catholics now look to Pope Leo XIV for fresh leadership on big issues like secularism and world conflict.
