Robert Francis Prevost becomes first US pope and will be known as Leo XIV – live | Papal conclave

Share your views on Pope Leo XIV.

Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, has become the first American pope to lead the Roman Catholic church. We’d like to hear your thoughts about the first clergyman from the US to lead the Roman Catholic church.

New pope criticized ‘homosexual lifestyle’ as ‘at odds with the Gospel’ in 2012 speech

Robert Mackey

In a 2012 address to the world Synod of Bishops, Father Robert Francis Prevost, who became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, said that “Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel — for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia”.

In the remarks, which he also read portions of for a video produced by the Catholic News Service, a news agency owned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the cleric added:

The sympathy for anti-Christian lifestyles choices that mass media fosters is so brilliantly and artfully engrained in the viewing public that when people hear the Christian message it often inevitably seems ideological and emotionally cruel by contrast to the humaneness of the anti-Christian perspective.

Catholic pastors who preach against the legalization of abortion or the redefinition of marriage are portrayed as being ideologically driven, severe and uncaring. …

Note for example how alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in television programs and cinema today.

The video illustrates his criticism of the “homosexual lifestyle” and “same-sex partners and their adopted children” with clips from two US sitcoms, The New Normal and Modern Family.

The cleric also called for a “new evangelization to counter these mass media-produced distortions of religious and ethical reality”.

Former US president Barack Obama congratulated the “fellow Chicagoan” Pope Leo XIV in a social media post.

“Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.”

Villanova University, the Catholic institution in Pennsylvania where Pope Leo XIV is an alumnus, celebrated the pope’s election in a statement.

“As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community and the global Church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom,” said University President the Rev Peter M Donohue.

“With today’s election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission,” he said.

British prime minister Keir Starmer posted a statement on X, calling it “a momentous moment.”

“The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally, and begins a new chapter for the leadership of the Church and in the world“ the statement reads.

“Pope Leo is the first American Pope. This is a momentous moment. As Pope Francis’ papacy showed, the Holy See has a special role to play in bringing people and nations together to address the major issues of our time; especially on climate change, alleviating poverty and promoting peace and justice across the world” he adds.

Blake Montgomery

An account on X widely believed to belong to the new pope offers a short tour of his interests. He tweeted and retweeted posts in both Spanish and English, reflecting his American heritage and his missionary work in Peru. He was close with his predecessor, Pope Francis, and tweeted prayers for the former pontiff’s health in recent months.

Leo also tweeted in disagreement with vice president JD Vance. In February of this year, Leo posted two articles that took issue with the stance by Vance, also a Catholic, on immigration. One article was headlined “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”

In 2020 and 2021, he used his account to encourage followers to follow social distancing measures and get the covid-19 vaccine. Also in 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Leo tweeted, “We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice.”

JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, the US state where Pope Leo XIV was born, welcomed the new pope in a social media post.

“A historic moment as we witness the first American leading the Catholic Church,” he wrote. “Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace.”

President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” and called it a “great honor” to have an American pope. He added that he is “happy” with the choice when speaking with reporters.

US vice president JD Vance congratulated the new pope in a post on X.

“Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Vance wrote.

As we reported earlier, Pope Leo XIV had criticized some members of the Trump administration on social media, including JD Vance. The late Pope Francis also had a complicated relationship with the vice president.

The prime minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni extended her wishes for Pope Leo XIV in a post on X.

“I extend my most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate. In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility.

A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope.”

New Pope Leo XIV – what we know so far

Jakub Krupa

• 69-year-old US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, prompted celebration and delight among more than 100,000 pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square.

• The moderate, Chicago-born cardinal was given senior roles by Pope Francis, and has significant missionary experience in Peru having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo.

That’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, but Marina Dunbar will guide you through the evening in Rome with the latest updates.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

“Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate.

Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.

At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.

I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength—both spiritual and physical—in carrying out his noble mission.

Ad multos annos!”

French president Emmanuel Macron:

“A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity.

On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope.”

Russian president Vladimir Putin:

“I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us.”

European Council president António Costa:

“I warmly welcome the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, a moment of hope for millions around the world. In times of division and uncertainty, his spiritual leadership can help inspire unity, compassion, and peace.

The European Union and the Holy See share a deep commitment to human dignity. I’m looking forward to working together in our shared pursuit of the common good.”

US state secretary Marco Rubio:

“The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.”

Lots of other European leaders also published their best wishes, including Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, Poland’s Andrzej Duda and Donald Tusk, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Portugal’s Luís Montenegro, Austria’s Christian Stocker, Czech Republic’s Petr Fiala, the Netherlands’ Dick Schoof and many, many others.

Vatican’s news service has now posted a lengthy biography of the new pope.

I have read it for you, so here are the key facts about Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost:

• 69-year-old American

• first Augustinian Pope

• born in Chicago, Illinois to parents of French, Italian and Spanish decent

• has two brothers, Luis Martin and John Joseph

• studied in the US and entered the notiviate in Saint Louis, US, before receiving theological education in Chicago

• was sent to Rome at the age of 27 to study canon law, where he was ordained priest

• his long-standing connection with Peru dates back to 1985, when he served in an Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Peru

• he later joined a separate mission in Trujillo, Peru

• he was made bishop of Chiclayo, Peru in 2015

• promoted to archbishop in 2023 and created cardinal in 2024

New pontiff will have to hit ground running on many urgent issues

Harriet Sherwood

From conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to migration, the climate crisis and schisms in the church, the honeymoon period for the new pope will be short.

The Roman Catholic church has a new leader, the Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Once the prayers are over and the crowds have dispersed from St Peter’s Square, what issues must the new pope grapple with?

Church unity

A key task will be to strengthen unity within the church amid growing polarisation in the world and different views and expectations within the church. Some observers believe there is a real risk of schism after 20 years in which there have been popes on either end of the spectrum: the traditional/conservative Benedict XVI, and the liberal/progressive Francis.

International diplomacy

The pope has an important role to play on the international stage, particularly to ensure that religion does not become a fault line. He will face ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan plus the politically divisive issues of migration, the climate crisis, religious freedom and human rights.

Sexual abuse

The legacy of sexual abuse cast a long shadow over Francis’s papacy. He was slow to grasp the scale and systemic nature of the problem, and at first did not understand the pain and anger of survivors. That pain has not gone away, and the new pope’s approach will inevitably come under intense scrutiny.

Governance

The new pope will need to take decisions on governance within the church, including the pace of change and levels of inclusion regarding laity and women. He will need to make key appointments within days to get the new papacy up and running.

Vatican finances

There are two aspects to this for the new pope’s attention: general oversight and transparency, on which there was significant progress under Pope Francis but still more to do; and the unsustainable levels of deficit in the Vatican finances, which deteriorated during Francis’s papacy.

Sexuality and identity

Francis shifted the church’s dial on issues relating to sexuality and identity, condemning discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, meeting trans men and women and authorising the blessings of same sex couples. Francis’s standpoint prompted a backlash among traditionalists, and the new pope will be watched closely for his views.

Read more about papal in-tray:

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson responded to the news about the new pope on social media saying:

Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.

Jakub Krupa

It appears the new pope is active on social media.

Given what seems to be his previous criticism towards some members of the Trump administration, such as this comment towards JD Vance or perhaps this one, their relationship will be one to watch.

First congratulations are in from the US president, Donald Trump, who said on Truth Social:

Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. 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!