Robert Prevost is the first North American to be elected pope. A symbolic and historic choice for the Catholic Church, his accession as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics and signals a broader change in the Church’s global balance of power. Not considered a frontrunner, his election surprised many, including American citizens gathered in St. Peter’s Square during the conclave. So who is the man now known as Pope Leo XIV, and what is his message?
Click through the following gallery and relive the moment Robert Prevost became the 267th pope.