The Catholic Church Has Elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope

Prevost, who will take the name Leo XIV, was elected as the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP
Share
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Andrew Medichini/AP
The Catholic Church Has Elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope
Copy

Live video feed from the Associated Press.

Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV.

White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling that a pontiff had been elected to lead the Catholic Church.

Read more updated news on the Associated Press.

Some municipalities aren’t doing enough to provide remote access to public meetings, according to a new report from the ACLU of Rhode Island
Can downtown PVD overcome the pandemic’s hangover?
Gov. Dan McKee unveiled a plan to offset the increase in winter energy costs, as rival candidate Foulkes’ campaign calls it a campaign stunt
Relatives of Chansareth Hong say he has not missed a check-in meeting since a criminal drug conviction in 1997 complicated his immigration status
The Kingston Chamber Music Festival kicks off its 38th season with three concerts this weekend
As one of the largest private landowners in Providence, Paolino says the city must address public safety concerns in order to realize its development potential