Taking the name Leo XIV, the American was elected to be the 267th pontiff and spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican's powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

(Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) For many South Siders and White Sox fans, the news of Robert Prevost’s election to head of the Roman Catholic Church was nothing less than a godsend during these ...

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church after a conclave that began on May 7. Following his election, he adopted the name Pope Leo XIV. Worldwide celebrations erupted among Catholic faithful after white smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

I don’t think he is going to go, pull the church hard left,” Prevost also said. “I think he’s going to be down the middle.”

He visited and stayed overnight on several occasions at the school located on Padre Damián street, where he is remembered as "a man who listened a lot and sought unity among divergences.". "The Pope has friendships in Madrid and used to come here a lot,

Incoming Pope Leo XIV faces what some call the most-challenging environment for religion in China since Mao Tse-tung.

Robert Francis Prevost was chosen on Thursday, May 8, to succeed Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church.