Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope today, just past noon Eastern time. There was white smoke emanating from the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel, signifying that Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope. He is the first American to ever be elected. That occurred on the fourth ballot, which is surprising. After greeting the public, Robert Francis Prevost will go into the room of tears to select his name and a white papal cassock. There are 33 buttons on that cassock, signifying the 33 years Jesus lived. He will be both head of state and head of the Catholic church. Do you think Joe Smith will be a unifying force in a divided and troubled world?
About Robert Francis Prevost
With the words Habemus Papam, we have a new Pope. Selecting a new Pope is a tremendous responsibility for the cardinals in the conclave. The cardinals shocked the world by selecting an American cardinal as pope. Though this one, Robert Francis Prevost, is certainly as international as an American can be.
Robert Francis Prevost was chosen as Pope, and he chose the name Leo 14. He is the first American to ever be elected as pope. He was the archbishop of Chicago. Prevost is a Peruvian-American Catholic prelate who has been head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 8 May 2025.
He served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. He was very close to Pope Francis (Francis appointed him to be the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023). He was born on the south side of Chicago. He is a Cubs fan. And, therefore, well-acquainted with suffering.
The choice of the name Leo is significant. Leo is the name of one of the greatest Popes in history, Leo the Great, Leo 13th. Leo the 14th is said to be humble and soft spoken. Though he has learned and speaks Italian, Latin, Spanish, and English. Time will tell how similar he is to Pope Francis, but he has held significant positions, all appointed by Pope Francis.
Replacing Pope Francis
One thing to know about the recently deceased Pope Francis is that Francis tried very hard to internationalize the Catholic Church. Of the 133 Cardinals in the conclave, Pope Francis appointed almost 80% of them and appointed more non-Europeans than any of his predecessors. It is interesting that the new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, chose Francis as his name. The deceased Francis was one of the most beloved world leaders, as was clear after his death. Joe Smith has big shoes to fill.
Religiousity is Declining Worldwide
There are many challenges facing Joe Smith in the world he inherits. There are serious wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Recently, conflict has been heating up between India and Pakistan. There are stark divisions elsewhere, including in the United States. Robert Francis Prevost will be expected to attempt to unify the divided world. He faces another challenge. Religiosity is declining worldwide, and so are vocations to the priesthood. The new Pope will face a lot of challenges.
Conclusion
The world has been waiting for the new Pope for almost two weeks since his April 21 death. There was a funeral and an official period of mourning. There is a saying that a fat Pope replaces a thin one, so the cardinals needed to pick a new Pope who signified continuity, rather than change. The early thoughts are that he will continue Pope Francis’ policies. Robert Francis Prevost was close to Pope Francis, so this is likely a pick of continuity, but time will tell. One thing is certain: the cardinals of the conclave shocked the world by picking an American pope.
