With a triumphant billow of white smoke, Cardinals gathered in Rome announced a new Pope for the world and for the nearly 1.4 billion devoted whom he will shephard over the coming years: Leo XIV. Making the news even more exciting, he will be the first of 267 to fill the position as an American.
President Trump celebrated the announcement on Truth Social, posting, “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.” 217 of his 266 predecessors were from Italy, an early practicality that turned into expected tradition.
Born Robert Francis Prevost, the Chicago native attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, a Catholic school of the Augustinian order, earning a degree in Mathematics. He went on to attain a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago before he was ordained as a priest, spending much of his early career in Peruvian dioceses. For the past few years, he worked in the Vatican, heading the council that accepts nominations for bishops worldwide.
Since the death of Pope Francis in late April, the world has watched with anticipation to see which direction nearly 18% of the population would be drawn over the coming years. While deeply beloved by the Church, Pope Francis had pursued a marginally more liberal path than history and tradition had dictated. While many of his ex-Cathedra beliefs were deeply conservative- such as his reference to abortion doctors as ‘hit men’- the media and those eager to overturn the deep tradition of the Church more eagerly clung to less conforming actions and statements. For example, his allowance of Priests to bless same-sex couples was often referred to as approval of gay marriage within the Church, which the order specifically did not approve, and such blessings may not be conferred even during a civil ceremony.
Before the conclave, 42% of American Catholics polled wanted the next Pope to continue the teachings of Pope Francis, with 37% wanting a replacement with even more Conservative values. Only 21% indicated they wanted the Church to move in a liberal direction. While he was Conservative by general standards, Pope Francis had been openly opposed to the election of Donald Trump as President, publicly objecting to his campaign and leadership based primarily on his deportation policy. Now, after 1542 years of papal legacy, we have an American Pope in office at the same time as Donald Trump.
The elevation of Pope Leo XIV was certainly orchestrated by God, but the moment also symbolizes an earth-side shift towards conservative ideals. One of the reasons an American had not been previously selected was a reluctance to grant an apparent ‘Super Power’ such additional influence on the world stage. Now, a man from Chicago readily steps up and inspires a conclave. He was selected on just the second day of the proceedings by Bishops from around the world who represented the will of their peoples. With God’s will, this American man will be Pope during the semiquincentennial, our nation’s 250th anniversary, which will occur in the Summer of 2026.
How do you feel about the election of an American Pope? Is it a commentary on the election of President Trump?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.