Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday to the papacy, becoming the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics and the first pope from the United States; he has taken the papal name Leo XIV. His first Mass as pope was held on Friday, where he emphasized the importance of “missionary outreach” to address the “wounds that afflict our society”.

Who is the new pope? – Robert Francis Prevost, aged 69, was born in Chicago; however, his life has extended beyond borders. He resided in Peru for two decades, during which he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, and later assumed leadership of his international religious order. Prior to the death of his predecessor, Bishop Prevost held a significant position in the Vatican, overseeing the office responsible for selecting and managing bishops worldwide.

As a member of the Order of St. Augustine, he shares similarities with Francis in his dedication to serving the poor, migrants, and relating to people at their level. In an interview with the Vatican’s official news website last year, he stated that “a bishop is not meant to be a little prince sitting on his throne.”

Having lived a significant portion of his life abroad, he was ordained in 1982 at the age of 27 and subsequently earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome; his service in Peru encompassed roles as a missionary, parish priest, teacher, and bishop; and during his tenure as the Augustinians’ leader, he traveled extensively to visit orders worldwide.

How did he choose his name? – According to a Vatican representative, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s decision to adopt the name Pope Leo XIV consciously echoed the legacy of the previous Leo, who guided the Catholic Church through a period of tribulation and steered it towards modernity. Leo XIII, who reigned from 1878 to 1903, holding one of the papacy’s longest terms, is celebrated for his 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” a strong advocate for workers’ rights to a fair wage that shaped the church’s contemporary social teachings, earning him the title “pope of the workers.” Professor David I. Kertzer of Brown University noted that Leo XIII urged the Church to engage with the working class and foster collaboration between employers and employees.

What languages does he speak? – The pope is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.

What are his genealogical roots? – Pope Leo XIV’s lineage traces back to Creole people of color from New Orleans. His maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, documented as Black or of mixed heritage, resided in New Orleans’ historically Catholic and culturally diverse Seventh Ward, a blend of African, Caribbean, and European influences. They later relocated to Chicago, where they had Mildred Martinez, who became Pope Leo’s mother. This revelation signifies that Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, also has roots that represent the diverse and complex character of American history.

What are his stances on key topics? – During his inaugural address as Pope from St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV invoked “a synodal church,” a concept central to Pope Francis’s legacy.

This “synodal” approach, unfamiliar to many Catholics, emphasizes consultative discussions among bishops regarding church doctrines and policies. Pope Francis, aiming to democratize the church, broadened these meetings to include lay individuals, notably women, who gained voting rights in 2023 to influence the church’s agenda.

Francis sought to move beyond exclusive decision-making by bishops, advocating for inclusive participation of all Catholics.

However, uncertainties remain regarding Pope Leo’s openness to LGBTQ+ Catholics compared to Francis. While his recent statements are limited, he expressed concern in a 2012 address about Western media and culture promoting views “at odds with the Gospel,” specifically mentioning “the homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.”

As an American, he has the potential to contrast with the ascendant conservative Catholicism within the United States. He has actively opposed the more aggressive vision of Christian influence championed by the Trump administration.

Prior to his papacy, a social media account associated with him voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Similar to other Catholic Church leaders, he has faced scrutiny regarding his handling of priests accused of sexual abuse.

A pope from Chicago – The announcement of the first American pope, a notion that once felt unattainable, sparked wonder among many Catholics. However, for those in Chicago, the news carried an extra layer of significance: the pope was a local.

Robert Francis Prevost’s roots lie in the Chicago area; he spent his childhood in a southern suburb, attending a Catholic church and school on the city’s South Side.

Throughout his life, the pope maintained connections to Illinois, returning on occasion for assignments with the Augustinians, and continuing to vote in his home state, as evidenced by public records indicating his absentee ballot in the November presidential election.

In a city deeply divided by baseball loyalties, a pressing question arose: did the Chicago-born pope support the White Sox or the Cubs?

Wrigley Field’s marquee initially declared the new pope a Cubs fan, but the pope’s brother, John Prevost, clarified the matter in an interview with a local television station.

“He was never, ever a Cubs fan,” stated Mr. Prevost. “I don’t know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan.”

Who chose the new pope? – Despite not being initially considered a likely candidate, Pope Leo’s selection occurred in a conclave that commenced on May 7, highlighting the frequent unpredictability of papal elections, a phenomenon also seen in Pope Francis’s election.

Cardinals, or “princes of the church,” hold the highest rank below the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church, collectively forming the College of Cardinals, which currently comprises 252 members, with only the 135 cardinals under 80 years old eligible to vote – the largest number in the church’s history, and approximately 80 percent of whom were appointed by Pope Francis.

Upon the death or resignation of a pope, the College of Cardinals convenes to elect a successor, engaging in multiple rounds of voting until a two-thirds majority is attained; following each vote, the ballots are burned along with a chemical additive that determines the color of the smoke released through a chimney visible from St. Peter’s Square, where crowds traditionally gather to observe the process and await the outcome, with black smoke signaling a failed vote and white smoke indicating a successful election.