By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Asaba
DELTA: The Catholic Church entered a new chapter on Thursday as American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope, assuming the papal name Leo XIV. The announcement was made to a jubilant crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, following a conclave held in the historic Sistine Chapel.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American to lead the global Catholic Church. His election comes at a time when the Church faces calls for deeper reform, stronger engagement with modern society, and healing of internal divisions.
Before his election, the new pontiff was the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and became a cardinal-bishop of Albano earlier this year.
In his first public appearance as pope, Leo XIV greeted the faithful with a message of spiritual unity, taking the motto “In illo uno unum”—“In the one Christ, we are one.” His tone suggested continuity with Pope Francis’s reformist path but with his own emphasis on pastoral outreach and global inclusion.
“Pope Leo XIV brings with him a rich background in theology, missionary work, and canon law. His time in Peru, both as a missionary and bishop, has shaped his vision of a Church that listens and walks with the people,” said Sister Maria Cardenas, a Peruvian nun who worked with him during his tenure in Trujillo.
Ordained a priest in 1982 after studying in the Order of St. Augustine, Pope Leo XIV spent decades in missionary work in Peru and later became a naturalized citizen of the country. His election is being celebrated across Latin America, where many see it as recognition of the region’s growing influence in global Catholicism.
His choice of the name “Leo” appears to signal inspiration from Pope Leo XIII, a reform-minded leader of the 19th century known for addressing social issues and modernizing the Church’s teachings. Analysts believe Pope Leo XIV may follow a similar trajectory in seeking to reconcile tradition with the demands of a changing world.
His inaugural Mass is expected to take place in the coming days, where he will formally begin his papal mission as Bishop of Rome and sovereign of Vatican City.
For millions of Nigerian Catholics and other faithful across Africa, his election offers hope for a pontificate that values the Church’s expanding influence in the Global South, especially on issues of poverty, education, and interfaith harmony.