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.

The Blizzard of ‘26 showed us some of Rhode Island at its best … and not so hot

Advocates cite progress, but also hurdles, as housing prices and rents continue to climb
As cities and towns scrambled to clear streets, snow removal equipment and crews arrived from Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
An Atlanta-based foundation secured the necessary financing to buy Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, state leaders said
More than a week after a shooter opened fire on their family at the Dennis M. Lynch arena, their father-in-law, Gerald Dorgan, succumbed to his injuries
Storm-proofing the grid sounds simple. In practice, it could mean billions in new infrastructure spending