The Catholic Church has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope

History was made in Vatican City as Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the first American pope, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV. A native of Chicago with deep roots in Peru, the 69-year-old addressed the world in Italian, Spanish, and Latin, offering a message of peace and gratitude. While the outcome surprised many church watchers, the moment brought celebration across continents—from St. Peter’s Square to South America to the U.S. White smoke, ringing bells, and a prayer marked the beginning of a new papacy unlike any before. Sarah Ventre with NPR has the full story.