A U.S. bishop thought it was unlikely that Catholic cardinals would break with more than two centuries of precedent to pick a pope from the states, but it has happened.

Taking the name Leo XIV, the American was elected to be the 267th pontiff and spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has been chosen by the conclave to be the next pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops,

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was named Thursday as the first ever American pope – and folks in the Windy City are having a blast over it. “From now on, all communion wafers shall be deep dish,

Robert Prevost may have made history Thursday by becoming the first pope from the United States. But in Peru, he is known as the saintly missionary who waded through mud after torrential rains

Cardinal Robert Prevost appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, choosing the name of Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino | AP Photo) Alessandra Tarantino | AP Photo

Robert Prevost’s Catholic roots were planted in Chicago’s south side suburbs, where he grew up playing “pretend priest” and embodies the spirit of a “second Pope

On Thursday afternoon -- running with a claim by an ABC News reporter -- the Chicago Cubs boasted that Pope Leo XIV was a fan of theirs, with their famous signage outside Wrigley Field telling the locals the good news: "Hey, Chicago. He's a Cubs fan!"