White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling a new pope has been elected in the aftermath of Pope Francis' death in April. Robert Francis Prevost, taking the papal name Leo XIV, is now the first American pope.
He has ties to Philadelphia, too.
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Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago in 1955 and raised in Dolton, a suburb immediately south of that city. He attended Villanova University and graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1977. He was back at the school in 2014, when the university awarded him an honorary doctor of humanities for his service to the Augustinian Order.
Villanova's president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, called Leo XIV's selection a "significant day" for the school and the Augustinian Order.
"A new Pope brings fresh perspectives, renewed priorities and spiritual guidance, all of which can deepen our mission, strengthen our values and enrich our community," Donohue said. "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, through an Augustinian lens, as we pursue intellectual and spiritual growth."
The new pope was ordained a priest in 1982, and Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal in 2023.
The papal conclave that led to his election lasted two days and four rounds of voting. Leo XIV is also the first pope to be born in North America.
Leo XIV spent years serving in his native Chicago, ultimately holding two terms as the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine. Additionally, Leo XIV worked in Peru as well. Leo XIV served in a variety of roles in the country, from being missionary in the 1980s to leading an Augustinian seminary in the the 1990s to a return in the 2010s that culminated in him being named the bishop of Chiclayo.
In contrast to Pope Francis' more progressive views for the Catholic Church when it comes to the LGBTQ community, Leo XIV has "expressed less welcoming views," according to report from the New York Times earlier this month as his candidacy for the papacy became more prominent.
"In a 2012 address to bishops, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.' He cited the 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children,'" the Times reports.
Leo XIV is the first Augustinian to be elected pope. The Order of St. Augustine dates back to 1244 and follows the example of St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustinians promote living "together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God."
Leo XIV's alma mater, Villanova, is one of two Augustinian colleges in the United States, along with Merrimack College in Massachusetts.