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Pope Leo XIV, formerly American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, delivers his message from the “Blessing Balcony” of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on the afternoon of May 8. / Reuters, Yonhap News

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was elected as the 267th pope on May 8, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He succeeds Pope Francis and was originally appointed cardinal by Francis himself.

The announcement was made from the “Blessing Balcony” of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where the senior cardinal deacon proclaimed, “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”), officially declaring the election of the new pontiff.

Cardinal Prevost has taken the papal name Leo XIV. Moments after the announcement, Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony, waving to the cheering crowd and offering his first public words in Italian: “La pace sia con tutti voi” (“Peace be with you all”).

Born in Chicago in 1955, Leo XIV was ordained as a priest in 1982 and served as a member of the Order of St. Augustine. He spent many years working as a missionary in Peru.

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated the new pope via a message on his social media platform Truth Social, writing, “It’s truly an honor to learn that he is the first American pope.”

He added, “What excitement, and what a great honor for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV—it will be a very meaningful moment.”