A Chicago-born missionary who has dual citizenship in Peru has become the first American pope to take the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church as it faces questions over past scandals and its future direction.

Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as the successor to Pope Francis and took the name Leo XIV. He was greeted with cheers on Thursday and addressed an  emotional crowd in St. Peter’s Square as he made his first appearance.

Leo XIV spoke in both Italian and Spanish but did not use any English. “We have to be a missionary church,” the pope told the faithful. He asked God to help build bridges among the people of the world. “We all must be a single people, always living in peace,” Leo XIV said.

Leo XIV is the church’s 267th pope. He has spent much of his career serving the poor in South America. Pope Francis appointed him Perfect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023. The prominent role elevated him to become a leading candidate for election.

Leo XIV, 69, is described as “dignified middle of the road” by a priest in the Order of St. Augustine, which he previously led, the New York Times reported. He could provide a balance between those who want a continuation of Pope Francis’ liberal agenda with those who want a return to a more conservative path.

President Trump congratulated the new pope on his Truth Social account.

“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great honor for our Country,” Mr. Trump wrote. “It will be a very meaningful moment!”

As recently as last month, the new pope had shared posts on X that were critical of Mr. Trump and Vice President Vance.

Secretary of State Rubio, a Catholic, issued a statement of congratulations. “This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide,” he said.

Leo XIV is taking charge of a church still facing many issues including ongoing troubles from sexual abuse scandals and falling church attendance in much of the Western world.

The most recent pope using the name Leo was more than 100 years old. Pope Leo XIII led the church from 1878 to 1903. The Italian helped move the church toward modernity and was referred to as the “Pope of the Workers” for his support of worker rights.

The white smoke had appeared just after 6 p.m. local time and the long shadows of the setting sun started covering the crowd as a top cardinal announced, “Habemus papam!” Latin for “We have a pope!” and then read Leo XIV’s birth name in Latin.

“We have a pope!” one American tourist exclaimed on CNN. Others were seen praying and crying.

Smiling people waved to TV cameras and waved the flags of many countries including Brazil, Mexico and Canada. People were seen running through the streets of Rome to watch the announcement.

American Cardinals Sean O’Malley and Donald Wuerl, who are too old to take part in the conclave, were seen in the crowd, according to the Associated Press.
Vatican workers gathered on rooftops for a view of the scene. Priests and nuns were among them, the New York Times reported.