Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born missionary with Peruvian citizenship, has become the first American Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. Known for his progressive views, he has criticized Donald Trump’s immigration policies and expressed strong support for undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients.
Despite past reluctance to elect an American pope, Leo XIV’s Latin American ties and reformist outlook gained him wide support. His election drew surprise and praise, including from Trump and JD Vance. In his first address, he called for peace and continued Pope Francis’s legacy of inclusion.
