Robert Francis Prevost waved to thousands of onlookers in St. Peter's Square from the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, May 8.

Leo XIV’s predecessor Pope Francis, birth name Jorge Maria Bergoglio, appointed 80% of the cardinals who voted to elect one of them as the next pope. Most of Bergoglio’s appointees are younger and more racially and geographically diverse than the men they replaced, and many appear to be far more progressive than he was.

On the second day of the conclave at the Vatican, the cardinal electors chose Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope, Leo XIV.

Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American pope in 2,000 years. What are his political views? Has he said anything about LGBTQ or women? Find out.

On day two of the conclave and after only four rounds of voting, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected and will be known as Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever North American pope.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, has voted in three Republican primary elections since 2012, state voting records show.

When white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel revealing that a new pope had been chosen, John Prevost turned on his television in Illinois and watched in awe as his brother’s name was announced.

Although the Pope—formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—has presided over his first service for the cardinals, the formal papal inauguration Mass is still more tha