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By Kate Nalepinski
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Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history. His decision to adopt the name "Leo" places him in a lineage associated with strong leadership.
Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, appeared before thousands on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square following his election by the College of Cardinals.
With the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel, Prevost was introduced with the traditional "Habemus Papam," and his new title, Pope Leo XIV, was announced.
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The name "Leo" harkens back Pope Leo the Great, who served from 440 to 461 and, per Brittanica, persuaded the Huns not to attack Rome.
Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost?
Ordained in 1982, per College of Cardinals Report, Leo received a doctorate in canon law in Rome at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV spent some of his clerical career in Peru before being appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023. There, he was responsible for selecting bishops.
Before he was named the new pope, the Rev. Michele Falcone, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine, told The New York Times Prevost represents the "dignified middle of the road." His reputation for humility and collaboration reflects a continuation of sorts of Francis' pastoral vision.
Why Did Robert Prevost Choose the Name 'Pope Leo XIV'?
The choice of "Leo" as a papal name is historically potent: The name has been adopted by 14 popes.
The most recent before Prevost was Pope Leo XIII, who led the church from 1878 to 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope and produced the encyclical Rerum Novarum.
The symbolism of the name could be a nod to Saint Leo the Great, a doctrinally influential early pope.
While Prevost has not explicitly confirmed his reasoning for the name, the lineage he joins includes Leo III, who crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800, and Leo X, who excommunicated Martin Luther in 1821.
What Did Donald Trump Say About Robert Prevost?
Trump reacted to the selection of Pope Leo XIV, writing 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!"
What's Next
Pope Leo XIV now begins the task of steering a global church. His selection resulted in celebration among global Catholics, and Americans, due to the historic nature of the selection.
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