It was after the third vote on Thursday that white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, generating a commotion among the thousands of people present in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Before the world's attention, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti introduced American Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new Pope, also announcing that he would henceforth be known as Leo XIV .
“ Peace be with you all ,” were Cardinal Prevost’s first words as Bishop of Rome, addressing the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “ This is the first greeting from the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God. And I hope this greeting of peace also reaches our hearts and our families ,” he added.
There was also a space to remember (and pay homage to) his predecessor: “ Let us remember the faint voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world that Easter morning. Let me repeat that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail . We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with one another, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us .”
He then thanked the other 132 cardinals who elected him and asked them and the faithful to " walk as a united Church, always seeking peace, justice, always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries ."
" We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, engages in dialogue, always open to receive, like this square, with open arms. All those who need our charity, our presence, our dialogue, and our love ," said Leo XIV.
" We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always tries to be close, especially to those who suffer, " he also stated, in a message that gave the first glimpse of the hallmark that could be given to his pontificate.
Biography
The new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost Martinez, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of South American descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph.
He completed his secondary education at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, graduating in 1973. At Villanova University (1973-1977), he earned a degree in Mathematical Sciences, along with a specialization in Philosophy.
He studied at the Catholic Theological Union – Chicago, where he earned a Master of Divinity (in Theology), with a concentration in Intercultural Mission, in 1982.
He later moved to Rome to continue his studies in Canon Law at the Angelicum University, where he obtained his licentiate in 1984, and then obtained his doctorate with "magna cum laude" mention, with the thesis entitled: "The role of the local prior of the Order of Saint Augustine" (1987).
He is a polyglot, speaking Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese; and he reads Latin and German.
In 2015, he obtained Peruvian nationality. He became the 267th Bishop of Rome on May 8, 2025.