Cardinal Robert Prevost announced as first American pope, taking name Leo XIV

Bishop Robert Barron of the Winona-Rochester, Minnesota diocese on Thursday shared his reaction to Pope Leo XIV’s election.

Appearing on Bret Baier’s "Special Report," Barron said he was that the election happened so quickly. He said he was, like many others, initially doubtful that an American would ever get elected pope.

“We were all flabbergasted to hear it was an American. After the shock of it all wore off, you look at this figure and you say, ‘well, in many ways, he’s an obvious choice,’” Barron said. “[He’s got] an extraordinary range of administrative experience, in missionary work, in canon law, running a worldwide order of the Augustinians, and then being a prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, which means he had contacts all over the world.”

Pope Leo XIV, who graduated from Villanova University in 1977, also received an honorary degree from Merrimack College, both of which are the only two higher education institutions established in the U.S. by the Order of St. Augustine.

After learning that its honorary alumnus had been appointed to serve as the 267th pope, Merrimack College turned to X to honor Pope Leo XIV.

“Merrimack offers its congratulations and joyful prayers to Pope Leo XIV, the first American and Augustinian pontiff,” the college posted on X. “In 2005, when he served as Prior General of the Augustinians, then Rev. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., visited MC, celebrated Mass and received an honorary degree.”

According to Boston 25 in Massachusetts, Pope Leo XIV was recognized in 2005 by Merrimack College for his work in Augustinian education.

Father Ray Dlugos serves as the Vice President of Mission and Ministry at the college, which is just one of two Augstinian colleges in the country.

"I was in at least two or three philosophy classes with him, and from that experience I can, and I’m going to betray my Philadelphia roots and become a New Englander, I can tell you he is wicked smart!" Dlugos told the station.

Fox News Digital’s Nick Butler contributed to this report.

Pope Leo XIV, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru, once delivered food and blankets to remote Andean villages using a white pickup truck.

Becoming the first pope to ever come from the U.S. and Peru, Pope Leo XIV, who’s birth name is Robert Prevost, served as a missionary in Peru, as well as a bishop.

Specifically, Prevost spent time in Chiclayo, which has a population of over 800,000 and plays a vital role as the main commercial hub of Peru’s northern coast. Highways link the city to the Andes mountains as well as the Amazon region.

In 2014, he served as the administrator and later bishop of Chiclayo, where he remained until Pope Francis summoned him to Rome in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations around the world, the Associated Press reported.

But before moving to Rome, Prevost delivered food and blankets to remote Andean villages, driving a pickup truck and sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor.

The villages, Janinna Sesa told the AP, would offer him food and he would eat whatever, including the peasant diet of potatoes, cheese and sweet corn.

He would sometimes enjoy carne asada – one of his favorite dishes – along with a glass of Coca-Cola.

“He has no problem fixing a broken-down truck until it runs,” Sesa said.

She also said Prevost was the force behind the purchase of two oxygen-production plants during the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed over 217,000 people in Peru.

“He worked so hard to find help, that there was not only enough for one plant, but for two oxygen plants,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video released by Vatican News shows the moments after Pope Leo XIV was voted in as the 267th pontiff, giving an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes.

The video began with cardinals singing a hymn with the new pope standing before them, and everyone surrounded by Michelangelo’s historic ceiling piece.

Leo XIV is then escorted past the cardinals as they clapped for the new leader of the Catholic Church.

As he walked past members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, and each of them saluted.

By the end of the video, Leo XIV can be seen shaking hands and waving at his colleagues.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert F. Prevost has voted in Republican primaries more so than those for Democrats, according to reports.

The New York Times reported that according to public records obtained by the paper, the new pope voted in three republican primaries since 2012 and did not vote in Democratic primaries during the same time period.

The most recent Republican primary Pope Leo XIV participated in was the Republican primary in 2016.

The data, from Will County, Illinois, also showed the pontiff did not vote there during the 2020 presidential election or midterm election in 2022.

Illinois does not require voters to declare or register as members of a political party.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Republican, reacted to the pontiff’s appointment as the 267th pope on social media.

“God Bless pope Leo XIV,” Pencen wrote, adding a set of prayer hands.

He then shared a quote from Pope Leo XIV from when he served as a cardinal.

"We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest-whether the child in the womb or the elderly in their frailty-for they are both gifts from God," the quote read.

Vice President JD Vance also reacted, saying, “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!”

Vance was one of the last visitors to see Pope Francis before the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church died at age 88 on April 21.

Catholic school students at St. Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, erupted in celebration after learning about the appointment of Pope Leo XIV, Thursday.

The school, located down the road of the newly-minted first American pontiff, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's alma mater, Villanova University, posted the video on social media.

"We just told the boys who were having lunch that we have a new pope! Pure excitement," St. Aloysius Academy posted on Facebook.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called the appointment of Pope Leo XIV “one of the biggest moments” in modern history for the city.

Johnson turned to X on Thursday after former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was voted to serve as the 267th pope.

“The Pope is from Chicago. This is one of the biggest moments in the modern history of our city,” Johnson wrote. “Pope Leo XIV will be a champion for workers all over the world. It’s only right that he was born and educated in the most pro-worker city in America.

“The Catholic Church has a strong tradition of standing up for the poor and the vulnerable, and I know that Pope Leo XIV will continue that tradition,” he continued. “This is a tremendous moment for our Catholic community and for all Chicagoans. God bless Chicago. God bless Pope Leo XIV.”

The election of Pope Leo XIV has many wondering who the man born with the name Robert Francis Prevost, including a classmate from his alma mater Villanova University.

Brian Kerwin told Fox News that he and the new pope were part of the class of 1977 graduates at the university, though he admitted they may not have had classes together.

Kerwin said he was thrilled when he heard one of his classmates was in the running, and went out to learn everything about the former Cardinal.

“The fact that he’s half-Peruvian from Chicago, I have some Peruvians very involved in my life,” Kerwin said. “To have an American preach the Lord’s gospel is wonderful. I think he’d help bring peace to earth.”

Fox News' Jacqliene Mangini contributed to this report.

The Archdiocese of Chicago celebrated the news of the first American pope’s election in a press conference on Thursday, in which they shared some insight into what kind of leader Chicago native Leo XIV might be.

Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Sullivan said that, “Pope Francis was certainly someone who cared for those who are living on the fringes, who could easily be forgotten. And I, strongly suspect that Pope Leo the 14th will do the same thing. He will give voice to the voiceless.”

Rev. Gregory Sakowicz, rector of Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, said that Leo will be influenced by his Chicago upbringing, saying, “You can never deny your roots. So, I'm sure he has a love for Chicago, love for the United States. That's part of his upbringing.”

Smiling, Sakowicz said that “one burning question I have is the fact that the Pope, Leo the 14th, or the cardinal, then Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago on the South Side. Is he a Chicago White Sox fan?”

Sakowicz said he did not know whether Leo was a White Sox fan but that he knows “he's a Cubs fan.”

“I heard he's a Cubs fan. Well, God bless him, and God bless all the fans,” said Sakowicz.

Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the Catholic Church’s new pope.

His election was announced by the Vatican on Thursday afternoon, with the newly elected pope stepping out to address those gathered in St. Peter’s Square shortly thereafter.

Prevost, the first American pope, will head up the Catholic Church as Leo XIV.

The new pope, who is 69, hails from Chicago originally.

He is a graduate of Villanova University from the class of 1977, according to the College of Cardinals Report. He obtained a mathematics degree from the school.

Find out more about Pope Leo XIV.

This is an excerpt from a story by FOX Business’ Aislinn Murphy.

Villanova University celebrated the appointment of Pope Leo XIV, a member of the Pennsylvania school’s class of 1977, calling the papal event “a moment of profound significance.”

“Today we joyously celebrate the election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, a moment of profound significance for the global Church,” the university wrote in a post on X. “A Villanova alumnus, Pope Leo XIV is the first Pope from the United States and the first Augustinian friar to be elected.”

In a press release, the school acknowledged it being an Augustinian Catholic institution, adding that it is celebrating the significant day.

“Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom,” University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue said “With today’s election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission.”

Pope Leo XIV, 69, was elected to take up the papal seat on Thursday, on the second day of the papal conclave’s deliberations.

Born Robert Prevost on Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, he was a suspected front-runner to succeed Pope Francis after his passing late last month, though some reporting suggested his being an American could actually count against him due to concerns that the U.S. could further exert its geopolitical prowess through the religious leader.

Leo XIV was first brought to the Vatican by Francis to serve as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, which is one of the most important positions in the Catholic Church as it vets bishop nominations issued globally.

Francis then elevated him to the position of Cardinal in September 2023.

Learn more about Pope Leo XIV’s road to becoming the new pontiff.

This is an excerpt from a story by Caitlin McFall.

A New York bishop said he is thrilled that an American was chosen to serve at the Pope, adding it will be “incredibly beneficial.”

John Bonnici, Auxiliary Bishop, NY Archdiocese spoke to Fox News on Thursday, saying the Chair of Peter is no longer vacant, now that Pope Leo XIV has been voted to serve..

“I am excited that an American has been chosen to be the Holy Father, and that now proves that all things are possible with God,” Bonnici said. “And it must tell you, too, that his background, I think, is going to be incredibly beneficial.

“You know, the cardinals chose wisely, inspired by the spirit. Here you have a man that isn't American, that is proficient in different languages,” he continued. “His Italian was flawless. He speaks Spanish. We keep talking during the coverage about the Catholic Church being in the South. He served as a bishop in Peru and, of course, you know, gave a shout out to the people that he served so beautifully for a long time.

Bonnici also spoke about Pope Leo XIV’s experience as an Augustonian priest, a missionary in various roles, a pastoral leader and the role he plate din his administration.

“So he comes to this…with a wealth of experience, and I do honestly believe that he's going to be able to apply all that in a very special way to his new mission as Holy Father,” he added.

The vast majority of Popes have been Italian but the last four pontiffs have all hailed from non-Italian countries, not that Pope Leo XIV of the United States has been elected.

Of the 266 Popes to lead the Catholic Church, 217, or 81% of them were Italian with Italy’s dominance in the papacy reflecting the Vatican's location in Rome, Italy, and the historic influence of the Italian clergy in the Church.

Despite Italy’s papal preeminence, there hasn’t been an Italian Pope since Pope John Paul I served for 33 days in 1978.

He was succeeded by Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) from Poland, who was followed by Pope Benedict XVI (2005–2013) from Germany and then Pope Francis (2013–2025) from Argentina, who was the first from the Americas.

Pope Leo XIV, elevated on Thursday, is 69 years old. His full name is Robert Francis Prevost and he is from Chicago, Illinois.

For 455 years between the death of Dutchman Adrian VI in 1523 and the election of John Paul II in 1978, the Italians had total control of the papacy.

Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is considered the first Pope and he was from Bethsaida in Galilee, which is in present-day northern Israel.

World leaders hailed the election of Pope Leo XIV on Thursday.

President Donald Trump remarked on the honor for the U.S., with Leo being the first American pope.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he extended a "message of fraternity" to Leo and Catholics across the globe.

"May this new pontificate be one of peace and hope," he wrote.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also hailed the "deeply profound moment" of Leo's election, adding that he hopes to meet with the Holy Father soon.

"Pope Leo is the first American Pope. This is a momentous moment," Starmer wrote.

"I look forward to meeting the Holy Father and continuing to work closely with the Catholic Church here in the U.K. and internationally to advance our shared values and the common good," he added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also marked Leo's election.

"I extend my most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate. In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility," she wrote in Italian.

"A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope," she added.

Bishop Robert Barron said he was shocked at the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history on Thursday.

Barron said he thought no American would be elected pope "until we go into more of a cultural and political decline."

He said he was skeptical that cardinals from elsewhere in the world would "want to give America control over the church."

Born in Chicago, Illinois, the new pope's given name is Robert Francis Prevost.

President Donald Trump called the election of Pope Leo XIV a "great honor for our country" on Thursday, just minutes after the Vatican elevated the first American pope.

Born Robert Francis Prevost, the new holy father is from Chicago, Illinois. Trump congratulated the pope and said he looks forward to meeting with him for the first time.

"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!" Trump wrote.

Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to live as missionaries during his first address since his election on Thursday.

The pope stressed that he hopes to be a builder of peace during his papacy.

He asked Catholics to assist him in bringing peace to "all peoples," and participating in dialogue and "building bridges."

The College of Cardinals deliberated for nearly 24 hours before two thirds of them decided on the new holy father.