Chinese (Simplified) 
Chinese (Traditional) 
English 
French 
Alemão 
Italian 
Japanese 
Norwegian 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
Elected on the second day of the conclave, Robert Francis Prevost makes history as the first American pope; Trump was one of the first leaders to speak out
White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning (8), confirming what the Catholic world was waiting for: the election of a new pope. On the second day of the conclave, the American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen as Francis' successor and adopted the name Leo 14.
The election marks a historic moment. Prevost is the first pope born in the United States and also the first pontiff from a country with a Protestant majority.
His election represents a symbolic shift at the center of leadership in the Catholic Church.
-
Billion-dollar fraud: Venezuela uses Brazil as a front to escape sanctions on oil trade
-
Military bases in Fernando de Noronha and Natal targeted by secret US plans: Washington seeks to regain access to strategic points in Brazil under the argument of historical right
-
The Asian dragon has given in! Has Donald Trump beaten China in a trade war?
-
Statue of Stalin, Soviet dictator in World War II, is unveiled on Ukrainian soil, occupied region that Russians call “New Russia”
Buy
Shortly after the announcement, former US President Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate the new pontiff.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has just been named Pope. It is a great honor to know that he is the first American Pope. What a thrill and what a great honor for our country."
Trump further added: “I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very significant moment!"
First American on the Throne of Peter
Prevost, who was born in Chicago and is 69 years old, was elected with the support of at least 89 of the 133 cardinals who voted, reaching the necessary two-thirds.
Despite his American origins, he built a large part of his religious career in Latin America. He worked mainly in Peru, a country where he spent more than a decade and held several important positions within the Church.
In the Vatican, he performed two central functions until his election: he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Both positions have great influence on Church decisions, especially in the selection of new bishops around the world.
Trajectory marked by Latin America
Prevost entered religious life at the age of 22. He studied theology in Chicago and then specialized in canon law in Rome.
He was ordained a priest in 1982. Two years later, he began his missionary work in Peru, passing through cities such as Piura and Trujillo.
He remained there for about ten years, even enduring the authoritarian period of the Fujimori government. During that time, he even publicly apologized on behalf of the Church for injustices committed.
In 2014, he was appointed administrator of Diocese of Chiclayo, where he also became a bishop. He remained in that role for nine years.
Allegations
It was during this period that he faced the biggest crisis of his career, related to allegations of cover-up of sexual abuse.
Three women reported in 2023 that Prevost had covered up cases of sexual abuse committed by two priests in Peru when they were still children.
The allegations include a call made by one of the victims in 2020 and a formal delivery of the reports in 2022. Prevost is said to have forwarded the cases to the Vatican.
One of the accused was preventively removed, while the other was no longer performing his duties due to health problems.
The Diocese of Chiclayo denied any cover-up and said all procedures were followed in accordance with Church law. The Vatican has not yet completed the investigation.
Towards the papacy
During his time in Peru, Prevost also served on important Church bodies, such as the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for Bishops.
In 2023, he was named cardinal, a title he held for less than two years before being elected pope — a rare occurrence in today's world.
During Francis' recent hospitalization, Prevost led public prayers for him. Now, he assumes the throne of Peter with the name Leo XIV.
