On May 8, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope after a brief but dramatic conclave. The historic choice? Robert Francis Prevost—now Pope Leo XIV—the first American to lead the Catholic Church.

A Chicago native and Villanova University graduate, Prevost heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing bishop appointments. He holds dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. While his stance on issues like women deacons and LGBTQ+ rights is more conservative than Pope Francis’, he has advocated for Venezuelan migrants and been called a “dignified moderate” by peers. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, reading, long walks, and travel—as he shared in a 2023 interview.

The 133 cardinals faced intense deliberation to select a successor to the late Pope Francis. Leading contenders included Rome’s Matteo Zuppi, longtime Vatican diplomat Pietro Parolin, and former Manila archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.