Robert Prevost selected as new pope, first American to lead Catholic Church

A missionary who has spent much of his career serving in Peru, Prevost, 69, is from Chicago.

He’s taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

Anticipation grew as white smoke — an indication that a new pope has been selected — poured out of the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 p.m. Rome time. That’s 11:07 a.m. CT. Prevost stepped out of the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica about 90 minutes later.

Prevost led the Vatican’s office of bishop appointments and previously served as the archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru, according to biographical information. He is also a Peruvian citizen.

Two-thirds of the 135 cardinals selected to vote in the conclave had to agree on the man to replace Pope Francis, who died April 21, the day after Easter, at age 88. The conclave involves a secret voting process.

Few expected the 267th pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church would be an American. He was elected after two days of voting.