The 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel have elected American Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope of the Catholic Church, succeeding the former pontiff. Prevost becomes the first American in history to hold the papacy, marking a significant shift in the Church’s global landscape.
The new pope, 74, hails from Chicago, Illinois. He previously served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023 and is known for his reformist stance and moderate views. He is widely respected within the global Church.
He is expected to deliver his first papal homily in St. Peter’s Square later today, attended by thousands of faithful from around the world.
